Climate - Montpellier (France)

The climate of Montpellier is Mediterranean, with mild, relatively rainy winters and hot, sunny summers, sometimes sultry, but tempered by the breeze.
The city is located in the south of France, a short distance from the sea, in the area subject to north winds (mistral and tramontane), although, compared to other areas on the Gulf of Lion, Montpellier is relatively protected by the Cévennes mountains.
Although the climate is generally mild, episodes of either cold in winter or intense heat in summer cannot be ruled out.
The average temperature in Montpellier ranges from 7 °C (45 °F) in January to 24 °C (75 °F) in July. Here are the average temperatures.

Normally, rainfall is not abundant, and amounts to 630 millimeters (25 inches) per year. However, autumn is quite rainy, and from September to December, torrential rains can sometimes occur, which can lead to the flooding of the Lez River (these episodes are called cévenols). Here is the average precipitation.

The winter is quite mild, with some rainy days and some sunny days.
Snow is rare but not impossible. Generally, on the coldest nights, the temperature doesn't go below -5/-7 °C (19/23 °F), even though it can reach lower values during the coldest winters. The temperature dropped to -15 °C (5 °F) in January 1947, to -16.7 °C in February 1956, to -18 °C (-0.5 °F) in February 1963, to -10 °C (14 °F) in January 1971, to -12 °C (10.5 °F) in January 1985, to -8.5 °C (16.5 °F) in February 1986, to -11 °C (12 °F) in January 1987, and to -10 °C (14 °F) in February 2012.
The summer is hot and sunny, with some rare thunderstorms.
Generally, during the hottest periods, the temperature does not go beyond 35 °C (95 °F). However, from time to time, this value can be exceeded during heatwaves of African origin, which are becoming more frequent in recent decades. The temperature reached 37 °C (98.5 °F) in August 1987 and in June 2003, 38 °C (100.5 °F) in July 1990 and in August 2017, as high as 43.5 °C (110.5 °F) in late June 2019, and 37.5 °C (99.5 °F) in August 2020.



The amount of sunshine in Montpellier is among the highest in France (2,670 hours per year). Sunny days can occur throughout the year, but the sun is more frequent in late spring and summer, particularly from May to August, as usually happens in Mediterranean climates. The average ranges from 4.5 hours of sunshine in December to 11 hours in July. Here are the average sunshine hours per day.

The sea temperature in the Gulf of Lion is never very high, because the sea is cooled by the north winds that blow for many months a year, and reaches at most 21/22 °C (70/72 °F) from July in September. Here is the average sea temperature.

When to go

The best time to visit Montpellier is spring, from mid-April to mid-June. September is also a good month, but it is quite rainy. Summer, from mid-June to August, can be hot and muggy, even though it's the best time for those who also want to swim in the sea. Winter is generally mild, but it can sometimes get cold and it can rain.