Climate - Saint Malo (Brittany)

The climate of Saint-Malo is oceanic, generally cool and wet, rainy and windy all year round, but especially in autumn and winter. However, there may also be sunny days, especially in summer.
The city is located in the north-west of France, on the northern coast of Brittany. On the other side of the estuary of the river Rance we find the city of Dinard. In the Gulf of Saint-Malo are the Channel Islands, belonging to Great Britain.
The average temperature of the coldest month (January) is of 6.5 °C (43.7 °F), that of the warmest months (July, August) is of 18 °C (64.5 °F). Here are the average temperatures.

Precipitation amounts to 780 millimeters (30.7 inches) per year. It ranges from 40 mm (1.6 in) in the driest month (July) to 95 mm (3.7 in) in the wettest (November). The rains are frequent especially from October to March. Here is the average precipitation.

Winter is milder than in the rest of northern France, because ocean currents prevail, and the wind often blows from the south. On the other hand, the sky is often cloudy, the humidity is high and there are periods when the wind blows moderate or strong. Rainfall is frequent.
Cold waves are shorter and less intense than in Paris and in the interior of France. However, there may occasionally be cold periods, in which the temperature drops below freezing, and it can even snow. Generally, the temperature does not drop below -6/-7 °C (19/21 °F) on the coldest days of the year, although it can sometimes drop to lower values. The coldest record is -13.7 °C (7.3 °F) and was set in January 1963.
In summer, temperatures are mild or cool. It can also rain, but less often than in winter.
Hot days are rare: generally, the temperature reaches 29/30 °C (84/86 °F) on the warmest days of the year. Saint-Malo appears to be quite sheltered from the heat waves that are hitting France more frequently due to global warming. However, short hot periods, maybe just a day or two, cannot be ruled out. The highest record is 39.4 °C (102.9 °F) and was set in August 2003.



On average, there are around 1,670 sunshine hours per year. Here are the average sunshine hours per day.

The sea temperature ranges between 9 °C (48 °F) and 18 °C (64 °F). So, it never becomes warm for swimming. Here are the average sea temperatures.

Best Time

The best time to visit Saint-Malo runs from mid-May to mid-September, since it is the mildest 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.

Saint Malo - Weather by month

Based on the period 1991-2020

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In January, the coldest month of the year, the weather in Saint Malo is usually quite cold. The average temperature is of 6.5 °C (44 °F), with a minimum of 3.8 °C (38.8 °F) and a maximum of 9.2 °C (48.6 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -4.5 °C (24.5 °F). However, it dropped to -11.5 °C (11.3 °F) in January 1997.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 14 °C (57.5 °F). However, it reached 15.7 °C (60.3 °F) in January 1993.
Precipitation amounts to 80 mm (3.1 in), distributed over 19 days.
The day lasts on average 8 hours and 50 minutes.
There are on average 2 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 25% of the time.
The average humidity is 84%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 18 kph (11 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 10 °C (50 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.

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In February, the weather in Saint Malo is usually quite mild. The average temperature is of 6.8 °C (44 °F), with a minimum of 3.6 °C (38.5 °F) and a maximum of 9.9 °C (49.8 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -3.5 °C (26 °F). However, it dropped to -10 °C (14 °F) in February 1991.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 15 °C (59 °F). However, it reached 21 °C (69.8 °F) in February 2019.
Precipitation amounts to 70 mm (2.8 in), distributed over 15 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 10 minutes.
There are on average 3 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 29% of the time.
The average humidity is 81%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 18 kph (11 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 9 °C (48 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.

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In March, the weather in Saint Malo is usually mild. The average temperature is of 8.6 °C (47 °F), with a minimum of 4.9 °C (40.8 °F) and a maximum of 12.2 °C (54 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -2 °C (29 °F). However, it dropped to -5.1 °C (22.8 °F) in March 2004.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 19 °C (66 °F). However, it reached 23 °C (73.4 °F) in March 2005.
Precipitation amounts to 65 mm (2.6 in), distributed over 17 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 34% of the time.
The average humidity is 79%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 17 kph (11 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 9 °C (48 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.

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In April, the weather in Saint Malo is usually mild. The average temperature is of 10.4 °C (51 °F), with a minimum of 6.2 °C (43.2 °F) and a maximum of 14.5 °C (58.1 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 0.5 °C (32.5 °F). However, it dropped to -2 °C (28.4 °F) in April 1996.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 22 °C (71 °F). However, it reached 27.1 °C (80.8 °F) in April 2018.
Precipitation amounts to 50 mm (2 in), distributed over 15 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 40% of the time.
The average humidity is 77%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 16 kph (10 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 10 °C (50 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.

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In May, the weather in Saint Malo is usually mild. The average temperature is of 13.2 °C (56 °F), with a minimum of 9.1 °C (48.4 °F) and a maximum of 17.3 °C (63.1 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 3.5 °C (38 °F). However, it dropped to 1.2 °C (34.2 °F) in May 1996.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 25 °C (77 °F). However, it reached 29.2 °C (84.6 °F) in May 2005.
Precipitation amounts to 55 mm (2.2 in), distributed over 15 days.
The day lasts on average 15 hours and 20 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 6 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 40% of the time.
The average humidity is 78%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 15 kph (9 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 12 °C (53.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.

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In June, the weather in Saint Malo is usually very mild. The average temperature is of 16 °C (61 °F), with a minimum of 11.8 °C (53.2 °F) and a maximum of 20.2 °C (68.4 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 6.5 °C (43.5 °F). However, it dropped to 4.8 °C (40.6 °F) in June 2001.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 29 °C (84 °F). However, it reached 34 °C (93.2 °F) in June 2019.
Precipitation amounts to 50 mm (2 in), distributed over 12 days.
The day lasts on average 16 hours and 5 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 7 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 43% of the time.
The average humidity is 78%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 15 kph (9 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 14 °C (57 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.

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In July, the weather in Saint Malo is usually very mild. The average temperature is of 17.8 °C (64 °F), with a minimum of 13.6 °C (56.5 °F) and a maximum of 22.1 °C (71.8 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 9 °C (48 °F). However, it dropped to 7.1 °C (44.8 °F) in July 2015.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 30 °C (86 °F). However, it reached 37.6 °C (99.7 °F) in July 2019.
Precipitation amounts to 40 mm (1.6 in), distributed over 11 days.
The day lasts on average 15 hours and 35 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 6.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 43% of the time.
The average humidity is 78%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 15 kph (9 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 17 °C (62.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.

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In August, the warmest month of the year, the weather in Saint Malo is usually very mild. The average temperature is of 18 °C (64 °F), with a minimum of 13.7 °C (56.7 °F) and a maximum of 22.3 °C (72.1 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 8.5 °C (47.5 °F). However, it dropped to 6.9 °C (44.4 °F) in August 1998.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 30 °C (86 °F). However, it reached 39.4 °C (102.9 °F) in August 2003.
Precipitation amounts to 50 mm (2 in), distributed over 12 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 10 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 6.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 45% of the time.
The average humidity is 79%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 14 kph (9 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 18 °C (64.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.

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In September, the weather in Saint Malo is usually very mild. The average temperature is of 16.0 °C (61 °F), with a minimum of 11.8 °C (53.2 °F) and a maximum of 20.3 °C (68.5 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 6.5 °C (43.5 °F). However, it dropped to 4.5 °C (40.1 °F) in September 2002.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 26.5 °C (79.5 °F). However, it reached 32.4 °C (90.3 °F) in September 2020.
Precipitation amounts to 60 mm (2.4 in), distributed over 13 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 30 minutes.
There are on average 5.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 45% of the time.
The average humidity is 79%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 14 kph (9 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 17 °C (62.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.

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In October, the weather in Saint Malo is usually mild. The average temperature is of 13.1 °C (56 °F), with a minimum of 9.7 °C (49.5 °F) and a maximum of 16.5 °C (61.7 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 3 °C (37.5 °F). However, it dropped to -4.2 °C (24.4 °F) in October 1997.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 22 °C (71 °F). However, it reached 29 °C (84.2 °F) in October 2011.
Precipitation amounts to 75 mm (3 in), distributed over 16 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 34% of the time.
The average humidity is 83%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 16 kph (10 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 15 °C (59 °F). Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.

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In November, the weather in Saint Malo is usually mild. The average temperature is of 9.5 °C (49 °F), with a minimum of 6.6 °C (43.9 °F) and a maximum of 12.4 °C (54.3 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -0.5 °C (31 °F). However, it dropped to -6 °C (21.2 °F) in November 2010.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 17 °C (63 °F). However, it reached 20.6 °C (69.1 °F) in November 2015.
Precipitation amounts to 95 mm (3.7 in), distributed over 18 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 10 minutes.
There are on average 2.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 28% of the time.
The average humidity is 85%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 17 kph (11 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 13 °C (55.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.

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In December, the weather in Saint Malo is usually quite mild. The average temperature is of 7 °C (45 °F), with a minimum of 4.3 °C (39.7 °F) and a maximum of 9.7 °C (49.5 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -3.5 °C (26 °F). However, it dropped to -7 °C (19.4 °F) in December 1996.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 14.5 °C (58 °F). However, it reached 17 °C (62.6 °F) in December 2015.
Precipitation amounts to 90 mm (3.5 in), distributed over 19 days.
The day lasts on average 8 hours and 25 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 85%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 18 kph (11 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 12 °C (53.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.