Weather Overview for Marseille

Marseille, located in the Provence region of France, benefits from a Mediterranean climate of hot summers, mild winters, plentiful sunshine and infrequent rain.

Marseille’s summer is long, hot and dry with average highs in the 20s starting in May right through till October. The hottest months are July and August which see average highs of around 29°C. The evenings often remain in the mid-20s which can be seen as idyllic or uncomfortable depending on your level of acclimatisation. These temperatures have led to the celebrated culture of pavement cafes and outdoor dining typical of the Mediterranean. June and July are the driest months and regularly see eleven hours of sunshine per day. The rain in Marseille is infrequent but highly unpredictable and occurs in short, torrential downpours.

Spring and autumn might be preferred by those wishing to avoid the stifling heat of the summer months. Six hours of sunshine a day can be expected as early as February, while November sees around five. Average highs steadily creep up from a reasonable 15°C in March to an enjoyable 22°C in May. The spring is drier than the autumn which sees average highs dropping from 20°C in October to 15°C in November. Spring and autumn nights can be decidedly nippy, becoming more agreeable around summertime.

Daytime temperatures in Marseille’s winter, from November to February, rarely drop below 10°C. January and February are the coldest months, regularly reaching 2°C. Dropping below 0°C is almost unheard of: a freak snowstorm this January (2009) shocked locals and paralysed the city. Even in its coldest months Marseille receives an average of four hours of sunshine a day.

Marseille’s exceptional climate arises from its situation on the Mediterranean south east coast of France, and from the protection of surrounding hills. The sea and mountains help to moderate the heat of the summer and cold of the winter. However, Marseille is in the path of the Mistral, a bitterly cold wind originating in the Alps, most often observed in the winter and spring, and also the Sirocco: a hot wind from the Sahara, sometimes bearing sand. This occurs, very rarely, in the summer months.

The Callanques, similar to the fjords in Norway, are fascinating to explore and popular with climbers. They stretch from the small eastern fishing village of Callalongue all the way to Cassis and receive the driest weather in France. In the winter the Callanques are subjected to the harsh Mistral wind, ruling out a climbing trip, and in the summer south facing areas suffer unbearable heat due to the lack of water.

The Frioul Islands off Marseille’s coast have an arid microclimate resulting in rare floral species. The four islands, Pomègues, Ratonneau, If and Tiboulen, are designated conservation sites and serve as a shelter for numerous marine birds and biological aquaculture.

Toulon, to the east of Marseille is the windiest city in France with 115 days a year of strong winds. It is also the sunniest and receives an average of 2899 hours per year.