St-Raphael is a commune on Franceâs west coast near to the city of Nantes. Featuring great beaches, charming old villages and a pleasant climate, it is a great holiday destination as well as an increasingly popular place for second home owners.
The climate is a temperate one; summers are generally warm and sunny without being really hot, and winters are cold and damp but rarely see extremely cold conditions. There is a general lack of temperature extremes.
Summer
Summer brings a lot of good weather in the St-Raphael region and is a perfect time to explore the region and enjoy the great beaches on offer.
Good summer days normally see temperatures touching the low to mid 20s. July and August are the hottest months and temperature averages 18C, varying between highs of up to 24C and lows around 13C on average. Hotter temperatures can occur, and summer heat waves can bring temperatures close to 30C for a couple of weeks each summer.
Rainfall is low in summer but donât be surprised to see the odd shower. Summer months see around 40mm monthly average rainfall. Showers are normally brief and there is usually plenty of sunshine â" July averages 9 hours of sunshine a day and June and August enjoy an average of 8 hours.
Autumn
Autumn is a season of change; early autumn can enjoy plenty of good sunny weather, but by late autumn it is a good deal cooler and wetter.
September is an excellent month with daily highs averaging 21C and a good amount of sunshine. Rainfall is on the increase however but the month sees only just over 60mm.
October is really when the warm days give way but daytime highs in the upper teens can still be enjoyed. October does herald the start of the wettest period of the year and monthly rainfall averages just under 80mm.
In November the cold temperatures begin to arrive and average temperature falls to 9C. Lows drop to 5 or 6C. Rainfall in November is close to 90mm.
Winter
Winters are quite cold in St-Raphael but the proximity to the coast and the warming influence of the Gulf Stream current ensure an absence of very cold winter weather.
Winter months see temperatures averaging 6C with highs around 8 or 9C and lows averaging 3C. Freezing temperatures can occur; they are rare on the coast but the likelihood increases as you move inland.
Winter sees a fair amount of rainfall; December and January average 89mm and 84mm respectively. Damp cloudy days can be quite frequent.
Spring
Like autumn itâs a season of change; visit in early spring and you may get a lot of cool and rainy weather, but by late spring its much more summer like.
May can be an excellent month with warm sunny days; rainfall averages 50mm and daytime temperatures are often in the high teens. April can see pretty good weather too. Remember at this time of year you also have the added bonus of fewer crowds and cheaper prices. One thing to remember though is if you planning to hit the beach the sea remains a little chilly until the summer months.