Travel Weather Forecast ← All cities
Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris against a blue sky
🗼Paris, France

Paris Weather by Month

A meteorologist-led guide to Paris's weather every month of the year — average climate, alerts to keep in mind, and the best months to plan around.

Pick your month →

January
Wet + Gray▶ Watch
February
Brighter Days▶ Watch
March
Shoulder Season▶ Watch
April
April Showers▶ Watch
May
Sweet Spot▶ Watch
June
Long Days▶ Watch
July
Heat Wave Risk▶ Watch
August
Warm + Quiet▶ Watch
September
Fall Begins▶ Watch
October
Autumn Colors▶ Watch
November
Gray + Windy▶ Watch
December
Festive Cold▶ Watch

🗓 Paris year-round

Spring(Mar–May)Mild and lengthening. Gardens come back to life, café terraces reopen, and the city looks its iconic best. May is the universal sweet spot — warm enough for short sleeves, cool enough for comfort, and before peak summer crowds.
Summer(Jun–Aug)Warm to hot, with long evenings (the sun barely sets in June). Heat waves (canicules) have become more frequent and intense — multiple days above 95°F, occasional spikes past 100°F. Older Parisian apartments and hotels often lack air conditioning. August is when much of the city closes for les grandes vacances.
Fall(Sep–Nov)September is the other sweet spot — pleasant temperatures, thinner crowds than spring. October brings autumn color to the parks. By November the city turns gray and damp, and the light fades fast.
Winter(Dec–Feb)Gray, damp, and short on daylight, but rarely truly cold thanks to the Gulf Stream keeping the city milder than its latitude suggests. Hard freezes are rare and usually come from Arctic air pushed west by the Siberian High. Snow is uncommon. The trade-off: museums, Christmas markets, and a quieter city.

Best months to visit

  • May — peak spring; terraces open, gardens at their best
  • September — second sweet spot; pleasant, autumn light, thinner crowds
  • June — long days, warm but not yet hot
  • October — autumn colors, shoulder-season pricing

Plan extra carefully

  • August — heat wave risk + much of the city closed; AC scarce
  • November–February — gray, damp, short on daylight
  • Mid-July to mid-August — highest crowds and prices of the year

Paris weather FAQ

When is the best time to visit Paris?

May and September are widely considered the sweet spots — pleasant weather without peak crowds. June is also excellent if you can handle larger crowds and slightly higher prices. April and October are solid shoulder months with some weather variability.

Does it rain a lot in Paris?

Less than the reputation suggests. Annual rainfall is moderate — around 25–30 inches, less than New York or London — but it's spread across many short, light showers rather than heavy downpours. Most months see 9–13 rainy days, often with sun in between. An umbrella in the bag year-round is fine; you rarely need full waterproof gear.

How hot does Paris get in summer?

Average July and August highs sit in the upper 70s°F, but heat waves (canicules) have become more frequent and intense in recent years — multiple days above 95°F and occasional spikes past 100°F. Many older Parisian apartments and budget hotels lack air conditioning. If you're traveling in peak summer, confirm AC at your accommodation.

Does Paris get cold in winter?

Less than its latitude would suggest. Paris sits at 48°N — north of Quebec City — but the Gulf Stream keeps it dramatically milder than similar North American latitudes. Average winter highs are in the low 40s°F, and true hard freezes are rare. When they happen, they're usually driven by Arctic continental air pushed west by the Siberian High.

Subscribe for more cities

Written by Ian Schwartz, meteorologist