Paris Weather in November
Planning a trip to Paris in November? Here's what the weather is really like as the city settles into late fall — and what most travel videos leave out.
November is when Paris turns properly cold and gray. Highs slide from the low 50s at the start of the month into the 40s°F by month's end, nights drop into the 30s and low 40s, and morning frost becomes common. Rain runs 9–11 days for the month, daylight gets short (sunset around 5:30 PM), and low, persistent stratus clouds can lock in over the city thanks to a phenomenon called anticyclonic gloom — similar to what makes San Francisco stay socked in for days at a time.
The two things travelers underestimate: how quickly it gets dark, and the wind storms. When decaying Atlantic hurricanes swing into Western Europe and meet a strong cold front, Paris can see gusts up to 100 mph. The upside: the Christmas markets begin lighting up later in the month. Meteorologist Ian Schwartz breaks down what to expect.
At a glance
What's covered
- Highs, lows, and how fast the month cools
- Rainy days, short daylight, and morning frost
- What anticyclonic gloom actually is
- Powerful late-fall wind storms
- When Christmas markets begin
- What to pack
Jump to a moment
Paris in November FAQ
What is the weather like in Paris in November?
Cold and gray. Highs slide from the low 50s into the 40s°F, nights drop into the 30s, morning frost becomes common, and rain runs 9–11 days. Daylight gets short — sunset around 5:30 PM.
What is anticyclonic gloom?
A weather pattern where high pressure traps cold, damp air near the surface under a thick layer of low stratus clouds. The clouds don't produce much rain but they don't move either — Paris can go a week under near-constant gray. Similar to what makes San Francisco stay socked in for days at a time.
Do Christmas markets open in November?
The bigger ones typically light up in late November and run through December into early January. If you're going specifically for the markets, aim for the last week of the month at the earliest.