Houlgate is a small coastal resort on the Normandy coast in France. It is located close to Le Havre and Caen, Houlgate is a relatively new town, only seeing development in the late nineteenth century (when it was called Beuzeval) as the trend for coastal holidays took off. It is now a popular destination with tourists on the fashionable Normandy coast.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />
Houlgate has a temperate climate with warm summers and mild winters. Its climate is regulated by the warm Gulf Stream which prevents the winters from getting very cold.
Summer (June to September) is fairly warm. Sunny weather can be expected for a good deal of the time, although showers are relatively common thanks to the coastal location. June sees average temperatures of 19°C, and it can regularly get into the high twenties on sunny days. A very respectable 8 hours of sunshine is the daily average, so although some days can be prone to the odd cloudy spell, visitors can expect plenty of summer sun.
July and August are the warmest months, both averaging 21°C. Again, about 8 hours of sunshine can be expected, and visitors are drawn by the excellent weather â" long days of uninterrupted sunshine and temperatures pushing 30°C are common. Conditions are ideal for strolling on the seafront and taking a dip in the sea, although visitors should be aware that sea temperatures can be fairly chilly â" they peak at just 17°C in July and August. The nights are mild, although sea breezes can bring temperatures down a few degrees. They are among the driest months, with average rainfall of 48mm and 49mm respectively. Showers can arrive swiftly, but rarely last long.
September is a little cooler (averaging 19°C), but the weather can still be extremely pleasant, with a good deal of sunshine in the first half of the month. Rainfall and cool conditions begin to arrive at the end of the month, but warm weather can persist throughout.
Autumn (October and November) is fairly wet, but does not get too cold until mid-November. October sees plenty of rainfall (72mm), and conditions can be gloomy for several days. On the other hand, sunny weather can arrive late and lucky visitors may find summery weather greets them even this late in the year. November is the wettest month of the year with 85mm of rainfall, and it can get quite cold and windy.
Winter (December to February) is actually fairly mild considering Houlgateâs northerly position. January is the coldest month, with average temperatures of 7°C. At night it can get pretty cold, and icy winds regularly blow in from the sea. Frost is common throughout winter, and snow may fall on a few days each month.
Spring. March is quite chilly, and some snow and frost can hang over from winter. Average daily temperatures are 10°C, and night-times are frequently cold. April is warmer and is also the driest month of the year, seeing just 46mm of rainfall. It also sees a decent amount of sunshine and although it is rarely very warm, it can be pleasant to walk along the coast on bright days.
May can be very summery at times. The daily average of 7 hours of sunshine is comparable to August and temperatures can pass 20°C on sunny days.