Today's weather for Strasbourg, France22nd Nov 2009 06:30

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Weather Overview for Strasbourg

Strasbourg has a mild continental climate. Warm to hot summers and cool winters are accompanied by low but frequent rainfall year round. Strasbourg sits on the Ill River on France’s northeast border with Germany. It is in the Alsace region and is the seat of the European Pariament.

Summer, from June till August, is pleasantly hot but quite rainy. The average high temperature increases to 23°C in June and up to 24°C in July and August. A lack of wind makes this feel much hotter. It can often get into the high 20s but this relies on the sun and rain. While rainfall is never exceptionally high in this area, it is at its highest in June and August; throughout the season it falls on around half of the days in the month. Short storms are frequent, bringing cooler temperatures and preceded by grey clouds. July is the sunniest month, seeing around eight hours of sunshine per day. This is a great time to visit the city due to the warmth and sunshine.

Autumn, from September till November, starts off very warm but cools quite rapidly. Luckily, Strasbourg is a destination for those interested in its cultural aspects which remain interesting whatever the weather. The average high drops from 20°C to 14°C in October, to 8°C in November. Night times are cool, below 10°C from the start of the season and falling to 2°C in November when it can already dip below freezing. Frosts are common near the end of the season. Rainfall lessens slightly but not in frequency and the clouds become more persistent; sunshine diminishes to six hours per day in September and is down to two hours per day in November.

Winter, from December till February, is very cool and snowy. The sun hides away, only coming out for one hour per day until February when it manages around three hours per day. Precipitation decreases in amount but not frequency and a white Christmas is guaranteed. The average high temperature drops to around 5°C and the average low falls just below freezing for the entire season. January is the coldest month. This is a great time to visit Strasbourg as its ancient architecture is made doubly quaint by the covering of soft snow.

Spring, from March till May, starts off cool then becomes warm and damp at the end of the season. Rainfall remains at a low level then jumps up to the annual high, shared with June, of 75 mm in May. It does not rain more often but showers become heavier. The sun slowly returns and temperatures increase to 11°C in March, 15°C in April and 20°C in May. Snow thaws early in the season as the average low rises above 0°C, but it does not get above 10°C at night till the very end of May. Snow takes much longer to thaw up in the mountains and many people stay in Strasbourg while skiing in the Vosges Mountains which are 20 km away.

Strasbourg’s climate can be attributed to its position between the French Vosges Mountains, and German Black Forest. Wind is blocked by these natural features keeping the city drier throughout the year and warmer during the summer than areas on either side of these natural features.

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