Paris has a temperate oceanic climate with four distinct seasons. Summers are warm and pleasant, averaging 25°C, while winters are chilly but rarely extreme, with average lows around 2°C. Rain can fall at any time of year, so it’s wise to pack an umbrella. Each season brings its own charm to the City of Light.
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.
Paris experiences a mild, oceanic climate influenced by Atlantic weather systems. The city enjoys four distinct seasons, each with its own appeal. Summers (June–August) are pleasantly warm, with daytime highs averaging 24–25°C and balmy evenings. Sunshine peaks at 7–8 hours per day, but brief rain showers are common, so an umbrella is always handy. Occasional heatwaves can push temperatures higher, but extreme heat is rare.
Winters (December–February) are chilly, with average highs around 7–8°C and lows near 2°C. Snow is infrequent and usually melts quickly, but rain and overcast skies are common, and daylight is limited to 2–3 hours of sunshine per day. Spring (March–May) brings gradually warmer temperatures, from 12°C in March to 19°C in May, with blooming flowers and longer days. Autumn (September–November) features comfortable temperatures early on, cooling to 10–13°C by November, with increased rainfall and beautiful autumn foliage. Winds are generally moderate, averaging 14–18 km/h, and the city receives about 2,000 hours of sunshine annually.
| Average climate data for Paris, France | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average maximum temperature (°C) | 6 | 8 | 12 | 16 | 18 | 22 | 25 | 24 | 21 | 17 | 11 | 7 | 25 |
| Average minimum temperature (°C) | 2 | 2 | 4 | 7 | 9 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 12 | 9 | 6 | 3 | 2 |
| Average precipitation (mm) | 33 | 41 | 35 | 18 | 32 | 38 | 36 | 30 | 17 | 24 | 37 | 49 | 391 |
| Average rainfall days (days) | 15 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 12 | 9 | 11 | 12 | 14 | 154 |
| Average snowfall (mm) | 29 | 20 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 63 |
| Average snowfall days (days) | 2 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 8 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 87 | 80 | 76 | 74 | 76 | 78 | 72 | 68 | 73 | 78 | 83 | 85 | 78 |
| Average wind speed (km/h) | 14 | 15 | 14 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 12 |
| 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 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 6 |
| Average cloud coverage (%) | 59 | 56 | 48 | 41 | 46 | 46 | 40 | 39 | 36 | 44 | 58 | 58 | 48 |
| Average UV index | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
The best time to visit Paris is from mid-May to mid-September, especially in late spring and early autumn. During these months, you’ll enjoy long days, mild to warm temperatures (18–25°C), blooming gardens or golden foliage, and plenty of outdoor events. Crowds are lighter in May, June, and September compared to the peak summer months.
November to February is the least favourable time for weather in Paris. These months are colder, with highs of 7–8°C, frequent rain, short daylight hours, and occasional wind. Outdoor activities can be less enjoyable, but the city’s festive lights and indoor attractions still offer plenty of charm.
Paris averages 12–15°C annually. July and August are the warmest months, with highs around 24–25°C, while January is the coldest, with lows near 2°C. Extreme temperatures are rare, but occasional heatwaves or cold snaps can occur.
Rain is moderate but consistent year-round, with monthly averages between 40–75 mm. Showers can be sudden but are usually brief. Always carry an umbrella, no matter the season.
Snow is rare in Paris and usually light when it does occur. It may snow a few days each winter, but it rarely accumulates or lasts long. Rain and overcast skies are more common.
Paris receives about 2,000 hours of sunshine annually. Summer months offer up to 7–8 hours of sunshine per day, while winter months drop to just 2–3 hours daily.
Dress in layers, bring a light jacket or jumper for spring and autumn, a warm coat for winter, and always pack an umbrella. Comfortable shoes are essential for walking the city’s streets.
Summers are generally pleasant, with highs of 24–25°C. Occasional heatwaves can push temperatures higher, but these are rare. Most days are comfortable for sightseeing, especially with sun cream and water.
Crowds are lighter in early spring (March–April), late autumn (October–November), and winter (except around Christmas and New Year). These periods offer a quieter experience but cooler, wetter weather.
The warmest month, with the highest average maximum temperature, is July (24.7 °C). The month with the lowest average maximum temperature is January (5.9 °C). Overall, the average maximum temperature over the whole year is 15.5 °C.
The month with the highest average minimum temperature is August (15.1 °C). The coldest month, with the lowest average minimum temperature, is January (1.8 °C). Overall, the average minimum temperature over the whole year is 8 °C.
The wettest month, with the highest amount of precipitation, is December (49.3 mm). The driest month, with the least amount of precipitation, is September (17.2 mm). Over the whole year there are 390.5 mm of rainfall on average.
The month with the most days of rain is January (15 days). The month with the fewest days of rain is September (9.2 days). Over the whole year there are 154.3 days of rain on average.
The month with the most snowfall is January (29 mm). The months with the least snowfall are April, May, June, July, August, September, October and November (0 mm). Over the whole year there are 63.1 mm of snowfall on average.
The month with the most days of snowfall is February (2.8 days). The months with the fewest days of snowfall are May and August (0 days). Over the whole year there are 8.1 days of snowfall on average.
The month with the highest average relative humidity is January (87.1 %). The month with the lowest average relative humidity is August (67.9 %). The overall average relative humidity over the whole year is 77.5 %.
The windiest month, with the highest average wind speed, is February (15.5 km/h). The calmest month, with the lowest average wind speed, is August (9.9 km/h). The overall average wind speed over the whole year is 12.4 km/h.
The month with the cloudiest skies, so the highest cloud coverage, is January (58.8 %). The month with the clearest skies, so the lowest cloud coverage, is September (36.1 %). Over the whole year there is an average cloud coverage of 47.6 %.
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 August (Average sunshine: 9 h). The month with the least sunshine per day is January (Average sunshine: 3 h). Over the whole year there are 6.3 h of sunlight per day on average.
The month with the highest average UV index is July (UV index: 6). 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 3.5.
