Rouen, nestled in Normandy along the Seine River, features a temperate oceanic climate with mild summers, cool winters, and rainfall spread throughout the year. The city experiences frequent cloud cover, moderate sunshine, and occasional light snow in winter. Distinct seasons, lush greenery, and a comfortable atmosphere make Rouen a charming destination for travellers year-round.
The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.
Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.
Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.
Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.
Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.
Rouen’s climate is characterised by moderate temperatures and consistent precipitation, typical of northern France’s oceanic climate. Winters (December to February) are chilly but not severe, with average daytime highs of 6–8°C and nighttime lows around 2–4°C. Snowfall is rare and usually light, occurring mainly in January and February, and quickly melting due to mild temperatures. Rainfall is frequent in winter, with December being the wettest month (up to 90 mm), and cloud cover is common, limiting sunshine to just 1.5–2 hours per day.
Spring (March to May) brings gradual warming, with highs rising from 11°C in March to 17–18°C in May. Rain remains steady, but sunshine increases to 6 hours per day by May, and the city’s parks and gardens burst into bloom. Summers (June to August) are mild and pleasant, with highs of 21–24°C and lows of 11–13°C. July and August are the warmest and sunniest months, offering up to 6.5 hours of sunshine daily and long daylight hours. Rainfall is moderate, and humidity is comfortable. Autumn (September to November) sees temperatures cooling from 20°C in September to 10°C in November, with rainfall increasing and days shortening. Winds are generally light to moderate, but can be brisk during storms. Rouen receives about 850 mm of precipitation annually, and enjoys around 1,560 hours of sunshine per year.
| Average climate data for Rouen, France | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average maximum temperature (°C) | 6 | 8 | 11 | 14 | 16 | 19 | 22 | 22 | 19 | 15 | 10 | 8 | 22 |
| Average minimum temperature (°C) | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 10 | 13 | 13 | 10 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 1 |
| Average precipitation (mm) | 44 | 48 | 41 | 33 | 46 | 52 | 39 | 41 | 24 | 41 | 55 | 60 | 522 |
| Average rainfall days (days) | 16 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 16 | 12 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 190 |
| Average snowfall (mm) | 14 | 7 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 12 | 43 |
| Average snowfall days (days) | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 7 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 89 | 85 | 84 | 81 | 83 | 83 | 82 | 79 | 80 | 85 | 87 | 89 | 84 |
| Average wind speed (km/h) | 17 | 18 | 16 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 17 | 14 |
| Average daily daylight hours (h) | 8 | 10 | 11 | 13 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 12 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 12 |
| Average daily sunshine hours (h) | 3 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 6 |
| Average cloud coverage (%) | 64 | 60 | 55 | 47 | 51 | 51 | 48 | 48 | 47 | 52 | 65 | 61 | 54 |
| Average UV index | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
The best time to visit Rouen is from May to September, when temperatures are mild to warm, rainfall is moderate, and the city’s outdoor life and cultural events are in full swing. Late spring and summer offer the most sunshine, long daylight hours, and ideal conditions for exploring Rouen’s historic sites and gardens.
The least favourable time to visit Rouen is from November to February, when days are shortest, rainfall is highest, and cloud cover is frequent. While winters are mild, the damp and sometimes gloomy weather can limit outdoor activities and sightseeing, though the city’s festive atmosphere remains charming.
Rouen has a temperate oceanic climate with mild summers, cool winters, and rainfall spread throughout the year. Snow is rare, and the city experiences frequent cloud cover and moderate sunshine.
The best time to visit Rouen is from May to September, when the weather is mild to warm, rainfall is moderate, and the city is lively with outdoor events, festivals, and long daylight hours.
Snowfall in Rouen is rare and usually light, mostly occurring in January and February. When it does snow, accumulations are modest and the snow tends to melt quickly due to mild winter temperatures.
Rouen receives about 850 mm of precipitation annually, with rain fairly evenly distributed throughout the year. Winter and late autumn are the wettest periods, while summer sees less frequent but still regular showers.
Summer temperatures in Rouen typically range from 21–24°C, with July and August being the warmest months. Heatwaves are rare, and evenings are usually cool and comfortable.
Pack layers, a rain jacket, and comfortable shoes for walking. Even in summer, evenings can be cool. An umbrella is useful year-round due to frequent showers, especially in spring and autumn.
Winds in Rouen are generally light to moderate, but can become brisk during storms, especially in autumn and winter. The city’s location along the Seine means occasional breezy days.
The warmest month, with the highest average maximum temperature, is August (22.2 °C). The month with the lowest average maximum temperature is January (6.3 °C). Overall, the average maximum temperature over the whole year is 14.3 °C.
The month with the highest average minimum temperature is August (12.8 °C). The coldest month, with the lowest average minimum temperature, is January (1.3 °C). Overall, the average minimum temperature over the whole year is 6.7 °C.
The wettest month, with the highest amount of precipitation, is December (60.3 mm). The driest month, with the least amount of precipitation, is September (24.3 mm). Over the whole year there are 522.4 mm of rainfall on average.
The month with the most days of rain is July (17.9 days). The month with the fewest days of rain is September (12 days). Over the whole year there are 190.2 days of rain on average.
The month with the most snowfall is January (14 mm). The months with the least snowfall are April, May, June, July, August, September and October (0 mm). Over the whole year there are 43.2 mm of snowfall on average.
The month with the most days of snowfall is February (2.4 days). The months with the fewest days of snowfall are April, June, August and September (0 days). Over the whole year there are 7.3 days of snowfall on average.
The month with the highest average relative humidity is January (89.5 %). The month with the lowest average relative humidity is August (79.1 %). The overall average relative humidity over the whole year is 84.1 %.
The windiest month, with the highest average wind speed, is February (17.7 km/h). The calmest month, with the lowest average wind speed, is August (11.6 km/h). The overall average wind speed over the whole year is 14.4 km/h.
The month with the cloudiest skies, so the highest cloud coverage, is November (65.1 %). The month with the clearest skies, so the lowest cloud coverage, is April (46.7 %). Over the whole year there is an average cloud coverage of 54.1 %.
The month with the longest days, so the most daylight, is June (Average daylight: 16 h). The month with the shortest days, so the least daylight, is December (Average daylight: 8 h). Over the whole year there are 11.8 h of daylight per day on average.
The month with the most sunshine per day is July (Average sunshine: 9 h). The month with the least sunshine per day is November (Average sunshine: 3 h). Over the whole year there are 5.9 h of sunlight per day on average.
The month with the highest average UV index is July (UV index: 5). The months with the lowest average UV index are January, February, November and December (UV index: 2). Over the whole year the average UV index is 3.2.
