Sète, South of FranceThe weather in South of France is amongst the best in France and has attracted tourists for over 300 years. The climate in South of France is the hottest in France, with average summer temperatures above 30oC (80oF). Temperatures for 2026 in Southern France are predicted to be be hot, exceeding the average for 2026. The weather is predominantly Méditerranéen, with long hot dry summers, warm springs and autumns, and clear mild winters. The South of France region is the driest region of France, rainfall is rare but when it comes you can experience spectacular downpours.
You can expect around 300 days of sunshine a year in the South of France, but the region covers a diverse area and the weather in South of France can vary considerably within its borders. Some areas have particular micro-climates. The weather in the South of France during the autumn and winter is quite unpredictable, with warm sunny days interspersed with spectacular lightning storms, hailstorms and occasional floods.
Weather in South of France during each month
South of France weather January 2026
Villefranche sur Mer, South FranceThe weather in South of France in January is usually relatively mild. Most days have powder blue skies during the day, but temperatures drop during the evening. I have been in Nice during January and the weather was like a summer''s day. Equally, I have been stood up on a hill up above Lodeve and I thought that the world was coming to an end. There was a biting swirling wind and the rain was falling horizontally. These are the extremes. Usually, you can expect a couple of damp days, but more often than not, you will have blue skies and some good winter sun.
The one thing about the weather in the South of France is that people live here for the winters, not necessarily the summers. With the palm trees, mild temperatures and blue skies; it really lifts your spirits. The average temperature in South of France during January is 14°C and there are on average around 9 days during January when it rains.
South of France weather February 2026
Abbaye de Senanque lavender fields Provence
The weather in the South of France in February is bright but cold. It is definitely bearable. I once had a job working in the North of England in a town called Nelson, Lancashire. I once counted that in the 28 days of February I saw the sun once and this was after a heavy downpour. The rest of the time the sky was overcast and covered with a dark grey cloud. It was miserable. Contrast this to where we live now and the climate we have in South of France and there is no contest.
Yes, it gets cold and there are some really heavy rains, but you do not get the constant dampness and depressingly dull overcast days. The average temperature in South of France during February is 15oC and there are on average around only 9 days during February when it rains.
During February in the South of France, you can expect sunshine for 50% of the daylight hours. This is what makes the South of France such a great place to be over the winter period. Even if it does get cold, it is not particularly damp and you are usually blessed with clear blue skies and sunshine on your back.
Weather South France March 2026
Chateau de Pepyrepertuse, Cathar castle in the Aude department, South France
When March comes in the South of France, the weather quickly jumps into Spring mode. Suddenly, all the plants start to sprout up, the fruit trees are full of blossom and you start to notice that there is more sunshine about the place. On average around 60% of the day is taken up with sunshine. The average temperature in South of France during March is 15oC and there are on average it only rains on 9 out of the 31 days.
South of France weather April 2026
Collioure near Perpignan in Southern France
The weather in Southern France in April is pretty good. You get a real sense that Spring has arrived and you know in your head that it is going to be dry and hot for the next 5 months. You can get some absolutely scorching days in April. The temperature can literally climb 8-10oC in the space of an hour. The average temperature in South of France during April is 17oC and there are on average around only 8 days during the month when you get some rain.
Weather in the South of France weather May 2026
Gordes village, Provence
May is perhaps my favourite month for the weather in the South of France. The days are warm, everywhere around you there is colour from hanging baskets, Mimosa plants and Jasmine clad walls. The days become longer and most days you will be sitting outside to eat (lunch and dinner). On average, you will experience sunshine for 60% of the day during May in the South of France
May is also the month when everyone hits the hardware stores and stocks up on products for the swimming pool. The pool covers come off and a few hardy souls plunge in (and usually straight out again). The weather in South of France in May brings everybody out of their homes onto the beaches and the place starts to fill up again.
Catch one of the loveliest months in the South of France by booking one of our beach houses and apartments in South France, and enjoy the sunshine and warmth at this time of year.
Weather in South of France June 2026
Pezenas, South France during JuneThe weather in South of France in June is an absolute joy. The evenings start to get very pleasant and you can sit out and barbecue until it almost goes dark. The days are full of sunshine (for around 70% of the daylight hours), the plants are bursting with colour and you can swim in the pool without the quick in and out that you have in May.
During June the weather in South France is perhaps the best you will find anywhere else in Europe. The average temperature in South of France during June is 22oC and there are on average around only 7 days a month when it rains.
South of France weather July 2026
Cap Ferrat, French Riviera, South of FranceThe weather in South of France in July is hot, hot, hot! You have long days of uninterrupted sunshine (for around 75% of the day) and it is a time when you really feel that you are living in the South of France. You know that feeling when you wake up and you can smell it in the air that it is going to be a hot day. I used to say that was rare to get temperatures above 35oC, but sadly this is no longer the case. Most of the time the heat is bearable, but you will get the odd week when the temperatures rise to 38-40°C (105°F) which is not much fun.
But for the most part, the weather in July is very enjoyable and you just spend your time in T-shirt, shorts and flip-flops. Some nights can get a bit uncomfortable, but if you keep the shutters closed during the day and keep the fans blowing at night, you will be OK (even better if you have air con - although this is not always necessary).
The difference between the weather in the South of France in June and July, is that the evenings in July remain quite warm (around 28°C). In July, it is very easy to sit outside until midnight, whereas in June you are normally heading indoors around 10.00pm.
Nîmes, is reputed to be the hottest city in France and it recorded a shade temperature of 43°C (110°F) in July 2001. The average daytime temperature in South of France during July is 27oC and on average you will only experience rain on 3 days during the month.
Weather South of France August 2026
Plage de Ponteil, Antibes South France
The weather in South of France in August is usually absolutely baking hot. Well I say baking hot, at the hottest part of the day it probably goes up to 35oC, so it is not the uncomfortable heat that you get in Spain or Greece sometimes. In the 20 years we have been here, there has only been one short spell where the weather was consistently hovering around 40oC/100°F for the whole of August.
August is also the month of the forest fires in South of France. You can hear the fire fighting planes hovering above the hills dropping water on the fires. The fires tend to be confined to the hills (where the forest is!) and it usually doesn't touch the coast. But unfortunately, it is happening more and more where the fires are reaching the outskirts of some of the coastal towns. Last year, a campsite in Marseillan Plage near Beziers was completely destroyed by fire. 500 people were evacuated and it took 3 days to put the fire out
I remember once, our friend Xavier who is a local wine merchant, drove to his office one morning in the town of Meze, near Montpellier and the whole wine depot was just a pile of ash.
There is also something strange that happens to the weather in South of France in August. You usually get a few days in the middle of the month when the wind picks up and you get these spectacular summer storms for a couple of days. In the north, dry winds like the Mistral, and the Tramontane blow during the summer months. The Tramontane blows most frequently and comes from the North-West of France. A few days each year the Sirocco blows up from North Africa, carrying a fine dust which coats all the cars and houses. Sometimes the wind can get up in other areas, but the Montagne Noir (Black Mountains) and Alpilles often protect the coastal plain from the strong winds.
The average temperature in South of France during August is 28oC (which is surprising because it usually feels hotter) and there are on average around 5 days when it rains.
South of France weather September 2026
Gruissan Plage Southern FranceApart from May, September is my favourite month for weather in the South of France. The days are warm and bright and the temperature is not so hot that you need to change your T shirt 3 times a day. The weather in South of France in September is still hot enough for the pool and the beach and the thing that I most enjoy is the fact that the South of France is empty. The tourists have returned to Northern France and back home to Europe and you have the space to enjoy the weather.
The average temperature in South of France during September is 22oC and there are on average around only 6 days during September when it rains.
Weather in South of France October 2026
Cassis near Marseille, South France
The weather in South of France in October usually starts to turn and the warm dry days of September become replaced with cooler wetter days. You still get plenty of sunny days, but the showers increase and you sometimes get some spectacular downpours.
October is still a good time to be in the South of France and it is not like it is raining all the time (in fact on average it rains on just 8 days during the month). The average temperature in South of France during October is 18oC and you get sunshine for over 50% of the day.
South of France weather November 2026
Menton on the Cote d'Azur, South France
The weather in South of France in November is bright but cold. The vineyards have turned a burnt orange/brown colour and you can feel the temperature drop in the morning and late evening. The average daytime temperature in South of France during November is 14oC and there are on average around 10 days during November when it rains. November is traditionally, the wettest month in the South of France.
South of France weather December 2026
Vieux Port, NiceThe weather in South of France in December is quite variable. Some days you get sunshine all day long and other days you have sunny showers. The snow starts to fall in the Pyrenees and Alps and you look forward to dusting off all your ski equipment. The coastal plains of the Languedoc and Provence rarely freeze in winter due to the influence of the Mediterranean Sea. Generally, the inland temperatures are a few degrees cooler in winter and a few degrees warmer in summer.
The coastline, sheltered by mountains, tends to be sunnier than and warmer than the inland areas. The mountains of course tend to be cooler, and valleys damper. The average temperature in South of France during December is 11oC and there are on average around 8 days during December when it rains.
Where to next . . . ?
If you are visiting the South of France this summer, then get the inside track on the best Places to see & visit in the South of France in 2026 (written by people who live in Southern France all year around). Read about the best restaurants to eat at, get local information on the best beaches to visit and discover the best tourist sites, markets and festivals to see during your stay.
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Contact us by Email if you have any particular questions you would like to ask about visiting the South of France. If you liked the article then please share it with others using the Instagram and Facebook buttons. I wish you a wonderful stay in the South of France.
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