Average weather, temperature, rainfall, sunshine hours
The climate of Rouen is
oceanic, generally cool and wet, rainy and windy all year round, but especially in autumn and winter.
The city is located in northern France, in Normandy, 50 km (30 miles) from the English Channel, and is crossed by the Seine.
The climate is not very different from that of Paris, but it is a bit cooler and rainier.
In
winter, from December to February, the average temperatures are quite low: normally, the maximum temperatures are around 6/7 °C (43/45 °F).
When
Atlantic currents prevail, the temperature can become mild and can even reach 13/14 °C (55/57 °F), but the weather in these cases is cloudy and rainy; in these periods, the wind blows frequently, and sometimes can be strong.
On the other hand, there can be cold periods due to
north or north-east currents, which are able to lower the temperature to the freezing point (0 °C or 32 °F) or a few degrees above; in these situations, the feeling of cold can be exacerbated by the wind, which blows moderate, usually from the northeast.
The coldest periods occur under the influence of cold air masses from Russia, which can lead to a few days of
snow, generally not abundant, and
frost.
In Rouen, the temperature rarely drops to around -10 °C (14 °F), though this may happen on colder winters. The coldest record is -17 °C (1.4 °F) and was set in January 1985.
Summer, from June to August, is a
pleasantly warm season: the days are very long, and the temperature generally lends itself to outdoor activities. However, the weather is
variable: there are some cool and rainy days due to Atlantic fronts, when the maximum temperature remains below 20 °C (68 °F), while on other occasions, the Azores High can bring some hot and sunny days, maybe a little sultry, with highs around or even above 30 °C (86 °F); in these cases, some
thunderstorms can erupt in the afternoon.
Really hot days in Rouen are quite rare, though sometimes they may occur because of hot air masses from Africa. In recent decades,
heat waves are becoming more frequent due to global warming. The highest record is 41.3 °C (106.3 °F) and was set in July 2019.
Best Time
The
best time to visit Rouen runs from mid-May to mid-September, since it is the warmest and sunniest period of the year. Sometimes, nights can be cool or even a little cold even in these months, so it can be useful to bring a sweatshirt or sweater and a light jacket for the evening.
Rouen - Climate data
In Rouen, the
average temperature of the coldest month (January) is of 4.4 °C (39.8 °F), that of the warmest month (August) is of 18.3 °C (64.9 °F). Here are the average temperatures.
Rouen - Average temperatures (1991-2020) Month | Min (°C) | Max (°C) | Mean (°C) | Min (°F) | Max (°F) | Mean (°F) |
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January | 1.9 | 6.8 | 4.4 | 35 | 44 | 39.8 |
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February | 1.8 | 7.9 | 4.9 | 35 | 46 | 40.7 |
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March | 3.7 | 11.4 | 7.6 | 39 | 53 | 45.6 |
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April | 5.3 | 14.8 | 10 | 42 | 59 | 50.1 |
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May | 8.4 | 17.9 | 13.2 | 47 | 64 | 55.7 |
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June | 11.3 | 21.2 | 16.2 | 52 | 70 | 61.2 |
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July | 13.1 | 23.4 | 18.2 | 56 | 74 | 64.8 |
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August | 13.1 | 23.5 | 18.3 | 56 | 74 | 64.9 |
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September | 10.7 | 20.1 | 15.4 | 51 | 68 | 59.7 |
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October | 8.2 | 15.4 | 11.8 | 47 | 60 | 53.2 |
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November | 4.8 | 10.3 | 7.6 | 41 | 51 | 45.6 |
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December | 2.4 | 7.1 | 4.8 | 36 | 45 | 40.6 |
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Year | 7.1 | 15 | 11.05 | 44.8 | 59 | 52 |
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Precipitation amounts to 850 millimeters (33.5 inches) per year: so, it is at an intermediate level. It ranges from 60 mm (2.4 in) in the driest months (February, April) to 90 mm (3.5 in) in the wettest one (December). Here is the average precipitation.
Rouen - Average precipitationMonth | Millimeters | Inches | Days |
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January | 75 | 3 | 13 |
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February | 60 | 2.4 | 10 |
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March | 65 | 2.6 | 12 |
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April | 60 | 2.4 | 11 |
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May | 75 | 3 | 12 |
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June | 65 | 2.6 | 10 |
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July | 70 | 2.8 | 9 |
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August | 65 | 2.6 | 9 |
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September | 65 | 2.6 | 10 |
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October | 85 | 3.3 | 12 |
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November | 75 | 3 | 13 |
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December | 90 | 3.5 | 13 |
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Year | 850 | 33.5 | 134 |
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There are on average around 1560
sunshine hours per year. Here are the average hours of sunshine per day.
Rouen - Sunshine hoursMonth | Average | Total |
---|
January | 2 | 60 | February | 2.5 | 75 | March | 4 | 115 | April | 5.5 | 160 | May | 6 | 185 | June | 6.5 | 200 | July | 6.5 | 200 | August | 6 | 190 | September | 5 | 155 | October | 3.5 | 110 | November | 2 | 60 | December | 1.5 | 50 | Year | 4.3 | 1560 |
Rouen - Weather by month
Based on the period 1991-2020
January, the coldest month of the year, is generally a quite cold month. The average temperature is of 4.4 °C (40 °F), with a minimum of 1.9 °C (35.4 °F) and a maximum of 6.8 °C (44.2 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -6 °C (21.5 °F). However, it dropped to -11.7 °C (10.9 °F) in January 1997.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 13 °C (55 °F). However, it reached 14.7 °C (58.5 °F) in January 1993.
Precipitation amounts to 75 mm (3 in), distributed over 13 days.
The day lasts on average 8 hours and 40 minutes.
There are on average 2 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 22% of the time.
The average humidity is 89%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 17 kph (11 mph).
February is generally a quite cold month. The average temperature is of 4.9 °C (41 °F), with a minimum of 1.8 °C (35.2 °F) and a maximum of 7.9 °C (46.2 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -5 °C (23 °F). However, it dropped to -13.4 °C (7.9 °F) in February 1991.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 14 °C (57.5 °F). However, it reached 19.7 °C (67.5 °F) in February 2019.
Precipitation amounts to 60 mm (2.4 in), distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 10 minutes.
There are on average 2.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 26% of the time.
The average humidity is 84%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 17 kph (11 mph).
March is generally a quite mild month. The average temperature is of 7.6 °C (46 °F), with a minimum of 3.7 °C (38.7 °F) and a maximum of 11.4 °C (52.5 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -2 °C (28 °F). However, it dropped to -7.6 °C (18.3 °F) in March 2005.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 18.5 °C (65.5 °F). However, it reached 22.3 °C (72.1 °F) in March 2005.
Precipitation amounts to 65 mm (2.6 in), distributed over 12 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 4 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 32% of the time.
The average humidity is 78%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 17 kph (10 mph).
April is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 10 °C (50 °F), with a minimum of 5.3 °C (41.5 °F) and a maximum of 14.8 °C (58.6 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -0.5 °C (31 °F). However, it dropped to -3.2 °C (26.2 °F) in April 2003.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 22.5 °C (72.5 °F). However, it reached 27.4 °C (81.3 °F) in April 2018.
Precipitation amounts to 60 mm (2.4 in), distributed over 11 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 50 minutes.
There are on average 5.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 38% of the time.
The average humidity is 73%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 15 kph (9 mph).
May is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 13.2 °C (56 °F), with a minimum of 8.4 °C (47.1 °F) and a maximum of 17.9 °C (64.2 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 2.5 °C (37 °F). However, it dropped to 0 °C (32 °F) in May 1997.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 26 °C (79 °F). However, it reached 30 °C (86 °F) in May 1998.
Precipitation amounts to 75 mm (3 in), distributed over 12 days.
The day lasts on average 15 hours and 25 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 6 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 38% of the time.
The average humidity is 75%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 15 kph (9 mph).
June is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of 16.2 °C (61 °F), with a minimum of 11.3 °C (52.3 °F) and a maximum of 21.2 °C (70.2 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 6 °C (42.5 °F). However, it dropped to 1.3 °C (34.3 °F) in June 1991.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 30 °C (86 °F). However, it reached 36 °C (96.8 °F) in June 2017.
Precipitation amounts to 65 mm (2.6 in), distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 16 hours and 10 minutes. So the days are long. June 21, the summer solstice, is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 6.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 42% of the time.
The average humidity is 75%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 14 kph (8 mph).
July is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of 18.2 °C (65 °F), with a minimum of 13.1 °C (55.6 °F) and a maximum of 23.4 °C (74.1 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 8 °C (46.5 °F). However, it dropped to 6.1 °C (43 °F) in July 2000.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 32 °C (90 °F). However, it reached 41.3 °C (106.3 °F) in July 2019.
Precipitation amounts to 70 mm (2.8 in), distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 15 hours and 40 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 6.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 41% of the time.
The average humidity is 73%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 13 kph (8 mph).
August, the warmest month of the year, is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of 18.3 °C (65 °F), with a minimum of 13.1 °C (55.6 °F) and a maximum of 23.5 °C (74.3 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 8 °C (46 °F). However, it dropped to 5.6 °C (42.1 °F) in August 2011.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 32 °C (89 °F). However, it reached 38.4 °C (101.1 °F) in August 2020.
Precipitation amounts to 65 mm (2.6 in), distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 20 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 6 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 43% of the time.
The average humidity is 74%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 13 kph (8 mph).
September is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of 15.4 °C (60 °F), with a minimum of 10.7 °C (51.3 °F) and a maximum of 20.1 °C (68.2 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 5.5 °C (41.5 °F). However, it dropped to 2.6 °C (36.7 °F) in September 1995.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 27.5 °C (81.5 °F). However, it reached 33 °C (91.4 °F) in September 2016.
Precipitation amounts to 65 mm (2.6 in), distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 30 minutes.
There are on average 5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 42% of the time.
The average humidity is 79%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 13 kph (8 mph).
October is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 11.8 °C (53 °F), with a minimum of 8.2 °C (46.8 °F) and a maximum of 15.4 °C (59.7 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 1.5 °C (34.5 °F). However, it dropped to -3.2 °C (26.2 °F) in October 1997.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 21.5 °C (71 °F). However, it reached 28 °C (82.4 °F) in October 2011.
Precipitation amounts to 85 mm (3.3 in), distributed over 12 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 40 minutes.
There are on average 3.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 33% of the time.
The average humidity is 85%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 15 kph (10 mph).
November is generally a quite mild month. The average temperature is of 7.6 °C (46 °F), with a minimum of 4.8 °C (40.6 °F) and a maximum of 10.3 °C (50.5 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -2 °C (28 °F). However, it dropped to -8.3 °C (17.1 °F) in November 1998.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 16.5 °C (61.5 °F). However, it reached 20.3 °C (68.5 °F) in November 1997.
Precipitation amounts to 75 mm (3 in), distributed over 13 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 5 minutes.
There are on average 2 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 22% of the time.
The average humidity is 89%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 16 kph (10 mph).
December is generally a quite cold month. The average temperature is of 4.8 °C (41 °F), with a minimum of 2.4 °C (36.3 °F) and a maximum of 7.1 °C (44.8 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -4.5 °C (24 °F). However, it dropped to -11.2 °C (11.8 °F) in December 1996.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 13 °C (55 °F). However, it reached 15.6 °C (60.1 °F) in December 1998.
Precipitation amounts to 90 mm (3.5 in), distributed over 13 days.
The day lasts on average 8 hours and 20 minutes. December 21, the winter solstice, is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 1.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 19% of the time.
The average humidity is 90%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 17 kph (10 mph).