, with mild, relatively rainy winters and hot, sunny summers, sometimes sultry, but tempered by the breeze.
The city is the capital of the Hérault department and is located in the south of France, in the Occitanie region, a short distance from the sea.
(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.
is not abundant. 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
).
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. In the past, when the climate was colder, the temperature dropped to -15 °C (5 °F) in January 1947, to -16.7 °C in February 1956, and to -18 °C (-0.5 °F) in February 1963.
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 highest record is 43.5 °C (110.3 °F) and was set in late June 2019. In 2022, the temperature reached 38.6 °C (101.5 °F) in June, 37.3 °C (99.1 °F) in July and 36 °C (97 °F) in August.
in Montpellier is among the highest in France. 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.
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.
, 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.
. Here are the average temperatures.
January, the coldest month of the year, is generally a quite mild month. The average temperature is of
7,6 °C, with a minimum of
3,2 °C and a maximum of
12 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-3,5 °C. However, it dropped to
-7 °C in January 1993.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
18 °C. However, it reached
21,2 °C in January 2002.
Precipitation amounts to
55 mm, distributed over 6 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 25 minutes.
There are on average 4,5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 49% of the time.
The average humidity is 72%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
14,6 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
12,8 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
February is generally a quite mild month. The average temperature is of
8,3 °C, with a minimum of
3,5 °C and a maximum of
13,1 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-3 °C. However, it dropped to
-9,8 °C in February 2012.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
19 °C. However, it reached
23,6 °C in February 2019.
Precipitation amounts to
50 mm, distributed over 4 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 30 minutes.
There are on average 6 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 57% of the time.
The average humidity is 66%.
The average wind speed is of
15,3 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
12,5 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
March is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of
11,4 °C, with a minimum of
6,4 °C and a maximum of
16,4 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
0 °C. However, it dropped to
-7,1 °C in March 2005.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
23 °C. However, it reached
27,4 °C in March 1997.
Precipitation amounts to
35 mm, distributed over 5 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 7 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 59% of the time.
The average humidity is 64%.
The average wind speed is of
16,4 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
12,8 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
April is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of
14 °C, with a minimum of
9,2 °C and a maximum of
18,7 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
3,5 °C. However, it dropped to
-0,3 °C in April 2019.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
25,5 °C. However, it reached
30,4 °C in April 2011.
Precipitation amounts to
55 mm, distributed over 6 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 30 minutes.
There are on average 7,5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 56% of the time.
The average humidity is 65%.
The average wind speed is of
16,8 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
13,7 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
May is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of
17,8 °C, with a minimum of
13 °C and a maximum of
22,6 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
6,5 °C. However, it dropped to
4 °C in May 2004.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
29,5 °C. However, it reached
35,1 °C in May 2006.
Precipitation amounts to
45 mm, distributed over 5 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 50 minutes.
There are on average 8,5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 57% of the time.
The average humidity is 64%.
The average wind speed is of
16 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
16 °C. Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.
June is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of
21,8 °C, with a minimum of
16,7 °C and a maximum of
26,9 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
11 °C. However, it dropped to
8,8 °C in June 2006.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
34 °C. However, it reached
43,5 °C in June 2019.
Precipitation amounts to
30 mm, distributed over 4 days.
The day lasts on average 15 hours and 25 minutes. June 21, the winter solstice, is the shortest day of the year in the Southern Hemisphere.
There are on average 10,5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 68% of the time.
The average humidity is 61%.
The average wind speed is of
15 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
18,9 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cool for swimming.
July, the warmest month of the year, is generally a warm to hot month. The average temperature is of
24,4 °C, with a minimum of
19,3 °C and a maximum of
29,5 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
14 °C. However, it dropped to
12,5 °C in July 1993.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
34,5 °C. However, it reached
37,4 °C in July 1991.
Precipitation amounts to
15 mm, distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 15 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 11 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 73% of the time.
The average humidity is 57%.
The average wind speed is of
15,2 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
21,2 °C. Therefore, the sea is cool for swimming.
August is generally a warm to hot month. The average temperature is of
24,2 °C, with a minimum of
19,1 °C and a maximum of
29,3 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
14 °C. However, it dropped to
11,7 °C in August 1998.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
34,5 °C. However, it reached
37,7 °C in August 2017.
Precipitation amounts to
35 mm, distributed over 4 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 55 minutes.
There are on average 9,5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 69% of the time.
The average humidity is 60%.
The average wind speed is of
14,4 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
22,2 °C. Therefore, the sea is cool for swimming.
September is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of
20,2 °C, with a minimum of
15,3 °C and a maximum of
25,2 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
9,5 °C. However, it dropped to
6,3 °C in September 1993.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
31 °C. However, it reached
35,3 °C in September 2018.
Precipitation amounts to
80 mm, distributed over 5 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 25 minutes.
There are on average 8 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 65% of the time.
The average humidity is 65%.
The average wind speed is of
14,3 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
20,6 °C. Therefore, the sea is cool for swimming.
October is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of
16,4 °C, with a minimum of
12,2 °C and a maximum of
20,7 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
4,5 °C. However, it dropped to
-0,2 °C in October 2003.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
26 °C. However, it reached
31,8 °C in October 1997.
Precipitation amounts to
95 mm, distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 5,5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 49% of the time.
The average humidity is 73%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
15,2 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
18,3 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cool for swimming.
November is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of
11,6 °C, with a minimum of
7,4 °C and a maximum of
15,7 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
0 °C. However, it dropped to
-4,7 °C in November 1998.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
21 °C. However, it reached
25,3 °C in November 2015.
Precipitation amounts to
65 mm, distributed over 6 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 40 minutes.
There are on average 5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 51% of the time.
The average humidity is 72%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
15,2 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
15,8 °C. Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.
December is generally a quite mild month. The average temperature is of
8,4 °C, with a minimum of
4,2 °C and a maximum of
12,6 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-3,5 °C. However, it dropped to
-6,8 °C in December 1996.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
18 °C. However, it reached
21 °C in December 2018.
Precipitation amounts to
65 mm, distributed over 6 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 0 minutes. December 21, the winter solstice, is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 4,5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 49% of the time.
The average humidity is 72%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
14,5 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
13,7 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.