St Malo has a maritime temperate climate with mild temperatures and moderate rainfall year round. Summers are warm and winters are cool. The port town sits on the northwest coast of France on the English Channel, in the region of Brittany. Not far from the town are the Channel Islands which are a port of call on the ferry route between St Malo and Portsmouth. The climate of St Malo is similar to other regions on the English Channel such as Le Havre and Cornwall.
Summer, from June till September, is mild and changeable. The average high temperature is 19°C in June and September, getting to 20°C in the middle of each month and up to a peak of 21°C in July and August. It often gets quite hot, up to the mid 20s, though this is heavily reliant on the sun. For the northern hemisphere the summer in St Malo is actually very good and tourists flock to the townâs golden beaches. Night times are generally cool, around 13°C. The sun shines for around eight hours per day in June and July which are the sunniest months in the year. Rain is moderate all year though it is slightly lower in summertime. It can still be expected to fall on around eleven days in each month and sometimes falls in thunderstorms, especially at the end of the season. The sea does not get above 20°C all year. It is at its warmest in August at 18°C.
Autumn, in October and November, becomes cool very quickly. The average high temperature drops to a mild 16°C in October and down to a cold 11°C in November. Night time lows rapidly fall below 10°C, getting down to an average of 6°C in November. The clouds begin to settle in for the winter, covering up the sun for all but four hours per day in October and three hours per day in November. Conditions are generally changeable.
Winter, from December till January, is cool but not cold and rather grey. The average high temperature drops to 8°C for the entire season and the average low gets down to 3°C. It can dip below freezing but frosts are rare. The sun diminishes further, only coming out for around two hours a day, and showers become frequent though are generally very light. The overall effect is a little dismal: not really the kind of weather for a winter escape. Hoteliers are well aware of this and many close for the winter.
Spring, from March till May, heats up slowly. The average high temperature creeps up to 11°C in March, 13°C in April and 16°C in May. Night time and sea temperatures remain low, but conditions generally start to improve; the sun starts to come out for more significant periods and rainfall reduces slightly, though it still falls on around half of the days in each month. Spring is quite changeable and clear, crisp days are just as likely as periods of gloom.
St Maloâs mild climate can be attributed to its position on the British Channel in the northern hemisphere. A northerly location means cool temperatures, but the Gulf Stream helps to keep winters warmer than necessarily expected at this latitude. Summer highs are also tempered by the sea. The prevailing winds of the British Channel are usually westerly making northwest France the wettest and coolest region of France. St Malo is provided some protection from the wettest weather due to the curve of the bay.
St Malo is actually an island but it is so close and well-linked to the mainland that it certainly doesnât feel like one anymore. It is a port town with an interesting history full of Romans and pirates. Marking the bounds of St Malo are twenty foot thick grey granite walls. The main tourist attraction is the ancient citadel, but St Malo has much more to offer; its ancient architecture, golden beaches and leafy setting combine with traditional French cuisine and boutique shopping to create a delightfully well-rounded getaway. Best of all is its accessibility: only a ferry trip or short, cheap flight away from the UK. Many other holiday destinations are very close to St Malo, including Dinard, Saint Briac Sur Mer and Saint Lunaire.