Today's weather for Carcassonne, France9th Sep 2010 10:30

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Weather Overview for Carcassonne

Carcassonne is a charming old fortified town found in the south of France in the Languedoc-Roussillon region.

The general climate found here is best described as Mediterranean with hot dry summers and mild winters. Carcassonne enjoys a lot of sunshine with over 300 sunny days a year on average. Annual rainfall is low at a little under 600mm a year; rain can occur at any time of year but is most likely in late autumn/early winter. Carcassone and the surrounding region is one of the warmest places in France with an annual average temperature of around 14C.

Summer

Carcassone enjoys fine summers and abundant sunshine. The hottest months are the peak summer months of July and August when average temperature is around 23C. Daily highs are in the high 20s during summer but temperatures can often reach into the 30s on the hottest days. June and September also enjoy good summer weather with plenty of sunshine and temperatures averaging around 20C. If the hot sirocco wind from North Africa is prevailing it can get hot and dry in the region and the wind can even bring desert sand with it. This only happens on a couple of days each year, but summer heat waves occur quite often, bringing very hot temperatures, even up towards 40C on extreme occasions.

Rainfall is low in summer though not unheard of. July is the driest month with an average of just 18mm rainfall. June and August are pretty dry too, seeing about 30-40mm of rain. Come the end of the summer, rainfall and humidity begin to increase, and lightning storms can occur.

Summer really is a great time to visit Carcassonne; good weather is almost guaranteed and it is when the Carcassonne Festival takes place. This is a celebration of the arts with numerous music, theatre and dance performances. Remember though that this makes it the most popular time to visit so there can be heavy crowds.  

Autumn

Autumn enjoys good temperatures but rainfall does increase throughout the season. Autumn is one of the wettest times of the year in Carcassonne but most of the rainfall is accounted for by heavy storms so you can still enjoy plenty of sunshine throughout the season. While you will experience some rain and cloud when visiting at this time of year, the crowds dwindle and the temperature is not oppressive. September is warm and still enjoys summer weather. October still enjoys daily highs in the 20s but temperature does start to drop into single figures at night, and rainfall is at its highest around this time. November averages 10C; you can still enjoy pleasant daytime temperatures, but it can also drop into low single figures.

Winter

Winters are quite cold in Carcassonne without getting really bitter. Temperatures average 6 to 7C and frequently drop towards zero. Temperatures rarely drop a long way into the minuses. It can be a bit rainy with about 50-60mm monthly average throughout the season. Expect some rainfall, but you’ll certainly see the sun more than we do here in the United Kingdom. Snow can fall on occasions when the temperatures stay low for prolonged periods. The nearby Ariège and Pyrénées mountains see frequent snow throughout winter and so Carcassonne is often used as a base for skiing holidays; the nearest ski resort is around one and a half hours away by car and the area offers a number of ski chalets.

Spring

Spring is arguably the best time to visit, especially late on in the season. Temperatures are good and the sun shines frequently. Early spring can still be a little unpredictable but by the mid May you can enjoy plenty of sunny days and daytime temperatures in the low 20s. Night times remain cold. Rainfall decreases throughout the season as the damp, cool winter weather gives way to the warm, sunny days of summer.

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