The city is located in central-eastern France, in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, at an altitude of 500/650 meters (1,600/2,130 feet), in an area of hills and low mountains east of the Massif Central.
The weather station at Saint-Étienne-Bouthéon airport is at 400 meters (1,300 ft), so it provides somewhat higher temperatures, especially in summer.
is quite cold. There may be relatively mild periods, when Atlantic currents prevail, cold and humid periods in which fogs and low clouds form, and other colder periods, when the temperature drops below freezing.
Sometimes it can even snow. Due to the altitude and the mountains to the west (the Massif Central) which partially protect it from Atlantic currents, but also to the proximity of the Pilat massif to the east, Saint-Étienne is the snowiest city in France. In the city center, at 650 meters (2,130 ft) above sea level, there are on average 24 days with snow per year, for a total of 80 cm (31.5 in).
At times, there can be cold spells, in which temperatures can drop as low as -10 °C (14 °F) or even below. The coldest record is -25.6 °C (-14.1 °F) and was set in January 1971.
, the temperatures are generally pleasant and lend themselves to outdoor activities, although sometimes there can be rains and thunderstorms.
At times, hot periods can occur, which in recent years are becoming more frequent due to global warming, and in which the temperature can exceed 32 °C (90 °F). The highest record is 41.1 °C (106 °F) and was set in July 2015.
to visit Saint-Etienne runs from mid-May to mid-September, since it is the warmest and sunniest period of the year. Sometimes, it can be hot in July and August, while in other circumstances, 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.
. Here are the average temperatures.
January, the coldest month of the year, is generally a cold month. The average temperature is of
3.8 °C, with a minimum of
0.3 °C and a maximum of
7.3 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-8 °C. However, it dropped to
-13.9 °C in January 2003.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
15.5 °C. However, it reached
20 °C in January 2015.
Precipitation amounts to
35 mm, distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 10 minutes.
There are on average 3 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 30% of the time.
The average humidity is 78%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
9.6 kph.
February is generally a quite cold month. The average temperature is of
4.5 °C, with a minimum of
0.2 °C and a maximum of
8.8 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-7 °C. However, it dropped to
-15.7 °C in February 2012.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
17.5 °C. However, it reached
22.2 °C in February 2004.
Precipitation amounts to
30 mm, distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 25 minutes.
There are on average 4 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 37% of the time.
The average humidity is 73%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
10 kph.
March is generally a quite mild month. The average temperature is of
7.8 °C, with a minimum of
2.6 °C and a maximum of
13.1 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-4.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-13.8 °C in March 2005.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
22 °C. However, it reached
25.4 °C in March 2001.
Precipitation amounts to
35 mm, distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 43% of the time.
The average humidity is 66%.
The average wind speed is of
10.4 kph.
April is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of
10.6 °C, with a minimum of
5 °C and a maximum of
16.3 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-2 °C. However, it dropped to
-7 °C in April 2003.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
25 °C. However, it reached
28.7 °C in April 2005.
Precipitation amounts to
60 mm, distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 35 minutes.
There are on average 6 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 45% of the time.
The average humidity is 64%.
The average wind speed is of
10.7 kph.
May is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of
14.6 °C, with a minimum of
9 °C and a maximum of
20.3 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
2.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-1.4 °C in May 2019.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
29 °C. However, it reached
33.7 °C in May 2015.
Precipitation amounts to
90 mm, distributed over 11 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 55 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 7 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 46% of the time.
The average humidity is 65%.
The average wind speed is of
9.9 kph.
June is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of
18.6 °C, with a minimum of
12.6 °C and a maximum of
24.5 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
6.5 °C. However, it dropped to
2.6 °C in June 2001.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
33 °C. However, it reached
38 °C in June 2019.
Precipitation amounts to
80 mm, distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 15 hours and 35 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 8 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 51% of the time.
The average humidity is 63%.
The average wind speed is of
9.2 kph.
July, the warmest month of the year, is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of
20.6 °C, with a minimum of
14.4 °C and a maximum of
26.9 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
8.5 °C. However, it dropped to
5.3 °C in July 2000.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
34.5 °C. However, it reached
41.1 °C in July 2015.
Precipitation amounts to
65 mm, distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 15 hours and 10 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 9 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 58% of the time.
The average humidity is 61%.
The average wind speed is of
8.7 kph.
August is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of
20.5 °C, with a minimum of
14.2 °C and a maximum of
26.9 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
7.5 °C. However, it dropped to
3.8 °C in August 1998.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
35 °C. However, it reached
39.3 °C in August 2003.
Precipitation amounts to
70 mm, distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 8 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 58% of the time.
The average humidity is 62%.
The average wind speed is of
8.3 kph.
September is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of
16.4 °C, with a minimum of
10.7 °C and a maximum of
22.2 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
4 °C. However, it dropped to
0.4 °C in September 1995.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
30 °C. However, it reached
34.2 °C in September 2020.
Precipitation amounts to
75 mm, distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 30 minutes.
There are on average 6 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 50% of the time.
The average humidity is 68%.
The average wind speed is of
8.4 kph.
October is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of
12.7 °C, with a minimum of
8.1 °C and a maximum of
17.3 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
0 °C. However, it dropped to
-5.9 °C in October 1997.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
25 °C. However, it reached
29.2 °C in October 2004.
Precipitation amounts to
70 mm, distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 55 minutes.
There are on average 4.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 39% of the time.
The average humidity is 75%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
9.4 kph.
November is generally a quite mild month. The average temperature is of
7.6 °C, with a minimum of
3.7 °C and a maximum of
11.4 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-4 °C. However, it dropped to
-10.2 °C in November 1998.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
19.5 °C. However, it reached
24.5 °C in November 2020.
Precipitation amounts to
65 mm, distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 30 minutes.
There are on average 3 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 29% of the time.
The average humidity is 79%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
9.6 kph.
December is generally a quite cold month. The average temperature is of
4.6 °C, with a minimum of
1.1 °C and a maximum of
8 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-7 °C. However, it dropped to
-12.4 °C in December 2001.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
16 °C. However, it reached
19.5 °C in December 2010.
Precipitation amounts to
40 mm, distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 8 hours and 50 minutes. December 21, the winter solstice, is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 2 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 25% of the time.
The average humidity is 79%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
9.8 kph.