Saintes is a small town in south-western France, located on the banks of the Charente River between La Rochelle and Bordeaux. Its climate is referred to as âoceanicâ, which is reflected in mild winters and fairly cool summers. The climate is differentiated from Mediterranean climate by the absence of a very dry summer. Weather in the region is influenced by Gulf Stream coming into the Bay of Biscay which serves to reduce seasonal variation.
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Summer (May-September)
Summer weather begins in mid-May, when average temperatures reach 20°C and rainfall drops to an average of 37mm. By June average temperatures reach 24°C and continue rising until mid-August when temperatures reach 26°C. During the summer months temperatures regularly reach high 20s and above, so the days can sometimes get pretty hot during July and August. However, Saintesâ location 30km (19 miles) from the Bay of Biscay protects it from extremes of temperature as cooling breezes can serve to keep the weather feeling fresh. In early summer clouds can line coastal areas as far inland as Saintes which can occasionally keep the weather somewhat gloomy. However, the summer months usually enjoy plenty of sunshine and fine temperatures.
Summer is also the driest time of year, although the weather is not as dry as resorts on the Mediterranean side of France. Monthly average rainfall varies between 33mm and 37mm during the summer months, so while rainfall is fairly low, visitors may well be caught in a shower or two.
Autumn (late-September â" mid-November)
Temperatures fall to 18°C by October and to just 13°C in November. Rainfall rises considerably in October, to 60mm, and November sees an average of 57mm, so the autumn can be quite wet. However, autumn is still a very pleasant time to visit Saintes. Storms can occasionally blow in from the Bay of Biscay, bringing wet weather and some windy conditions.
Winter (late-November â" February)
Winters in Saintes are kept fairly mild by the influence of the Gulf Stream and the Bay of Biscay, and winter is fairly short. Average highs of 9°C can be expected in December and January, so days rarely get very cold. Night-time temperatures occasionally drop below zero, so it can feel pretty chilly at night. Temperatures rise again in February, with average highs climbing to 11°C. Rainfall remains fairly high in the winter months, with December and January experiencing 54mm and 49mm respectively. This drops noticably in February â" to just 33mm.
Spring (March â" early May)
Spring arrives in March, bringing warmer weather. Average temperatures are 15°C, and rainfall is low at just 33mm. April is similarly warm, but is somewhat wetter, with an average 46mm of rainfall. Early May sees warm, sunny weather begin to dominate, and Mayâs average temperature hits 20°C. In late April and early May conditions can be extremely pleasant, with plenty of sunshine and mild temperatures.