Winter
Dec → Feb8 to 9°
nights 3 to 5°
- 15 rainy days · 89 mm
- sea 9°
When is the best time to visit the Bay of Somme?
- Jan8°not recommended
- Feb9°not recommended
- Mar11°fair
- Apr14°recommended
- May17°recommended
- Jun20°recommended
- Jul21°fair
- Aug22°fair
- Sep20°recommended
- Oct16°recommended
- Nov11°fair
- Dec9°not recommended
RecommendedFairNot recommended· afternoon temperature
The weather in the Bay of Somme, month by month
The table of records, month by month
| Month | High | Low | Rainfall | Rainy days | Sea | Best |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 8° | 3° | 93 mm | 15 d | 9° | |
| February | 9° | 4° | 72 mm | 13 d | 8° | |
| March | 11° | 5° | 73 mm | 14 d | 9° | |
| April | 14° | 6° | 51 mm | 11 d | 10° | ✓ |
| May | 17° | 10° | 62 mm | 11 d | 14° | ✓ |
| June | 20° | 13° | 67 mm | 10 d | 17° | ✓ |
| July | 21° | 15° | 61 mm | 12 d | 19° | |
| August | 22° | 16° | 73 mm | 13 d | 20° | |
| September | 20° | 13° | 85 mm | 12 d | 19° | ✓ |
| October | 16° | 11° | 85 mm | 13 d | 17° | ✓ |
| November | 11° | 7° | 113 mm | 15 d | 14° | |
| December | 9° | 5° | 101 mm | 16 d | 10° |
The four seasons in the Bay of Somme, in figures
What the 2015-2024 records (Saint-Valery-sur-Somme) show, season by season, to compare at a glance instead of reading twelve rows of a table.
Spring
Mar → May11 to 17°
nights 5 to 10°
- 12 rainy days · 62 mm
- sea 11°
Summer
Jun → Aug20 to 22°
nights 13 to 16°
- 12 rainy days · 67 mm
- sea 19°
Autumn
Sep → Nov11 to 20°
nights 7 to 13°
- 13 rainy days · 94 mm
- sea 17°
Book early for April to June and September to October
The timing is right, so it is right for everyone: in these months the best places to stay and the small-group tours go first. Here is where to start.
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Daylight in the Bay of Somme, month by month
The time between sunrise and sunset, from shortest to longest. Not to be confused with the sunshine hours in the table above, which count clear skies. In June there are 16h22 of daylight, in December 8h04, a difference of 8h18.
8h30Jan
10hFeb
11h43Mar
13h43Apr
15h25May
16h22Jun
15h58Jul
14h28Aug
12h32Sep
10h37Oct
8h55Nov
8h04Dec
Calculated for the latitude of the reference point "Saint-Valery-sur-Somme" (50.18°). Values on the 15th of each month, local solar time.
What to do in the Bay of Somme, month by month
| Activity | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hiking | ||||||||||||
| Beach & swimming | ||||||||||||
| Towns & culture | ||||||||||||
| Long days | ||||||||||||
| Events | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
EventsEquinox spring tidesMarch, SeptemberBird and Nature FestivalAprilBird migrationApril, May, September, OctoberHarbour seal puppingJune to AugustDetails ↓
favourablewith compromisesunfavourable
- Towns & culture: April, May, June, July, September
- Long days: May, June, July, August
Grid derived from the records (temperature, rainfall, sea), not from an opinion.
What's on in the Bay of Somme, month by month?
What comes back every year, and when. Exact dates change from year to year, so check them before you book.
- March, SeptemberEquinox spring tides
At the equinoxes, the sea comes a very long way into the bay then pulls back very far, which changes everything for crossings on foot.
- AprilBird and Nature Festival
Guided outings, photography and talks about the bay's birds for around ten days in April.
- April, May, September, OctoberBird migration
The bay is a stopover for waders and geese travelling between north and south, twice a year, in spring and autumn.
- June to AugustHarbour seal pupping
The young seals are born on the sandbanks in summer, and the colonies can be watched from a distance at the Pointe du Hourdel.
Travelling off-peak
Month by month, in detail
January
Not recommended8°3° at night
- 93 mm · 15 d
- sea 9°
Low season, lower prices
February
Not recommended9°4° at night
- 72 mm · 13 d
- sea 8°
Low season, lower prices
March
Fair11°5° at night
- 73 mm · 14 d
- sea 9°
Low season, lower prices
April
Recommended14°6° at night
- 51 mm · 11 d
- sea 10°
Busy, without the crush
May
Recommended17°10° at night
- 62 mm · 11 d
- sea 14°
Busy, without the crush
June
Recommended20°13° at night
- 67 mm · 10 d
- sea 17°
Busy, without the crush
July
Fair21°15° at night
- 61 mm · 12 d
- sea 19°
Busy, without the crush
August
Fair22°16° at night
- 73 mm · 13 d
- sea 20°
Busy, without the crush
September
Recommended20°13° at night
- 85 mm · 12 d
- sea 19°
Busy, without the crush
October
Recommended16°11° at night
- 85 mm · 13 d
- sea 17°
Busy, without the crush
November
Fair11°7° at night
- 113 mm · 15 d
- sea 14°
Low season, lower prices
December
Not recommended9°5° at night
- 101 mm · 16 d
- sea 10°
Quiet, then the holidays
Read the twelve months in detail
January. Cool: 8 °C at best, 3 °C at night. A very wet month, 93 mm of rain over 15 days. Sea at 9 °C, too cold to swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
February. Cool: 9 °C at best, 4 °C at night. Expect 13 days of rain in the month (72 mm). Sea at 8 °C, too cold to swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
March. Cool: 11 °C at best, 5 °C at night. Frequent rain: 73 mm over 14 days. Sea at 9 °C, too cold to swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
April. Cool: 14 °C at best, 6 °C at night. Expect 11 days of rain in the month (51 mm). Sea at 10 °C, too cold to swim. Busy season, without the crush.
May. Cool: 17 °C at best, 10 °C at night. Expect 11 days of rain in the month (62 mm). Sea at 14 °C, too cold to swim. Busy season, without the crush.
June. Mild, 20 °C in the afternoon and 13 °C early in the morning. Expect 10 days of rain in the month (67 mm). Sea at 17 °C, too cold to swim. Busy season, without the crush.
July. Mild, 21 °C in the afternoon and 15 °C early in the morning. Expect 12 days of rain in the month (61 mm). Cool sea (19 °C), for the brave. Busy season, without the crush.
August. Mild, 22 °C in the afternoon and 16 °C early in the morning. Expect 13 days of rain in the month (73 mm). Cool sea (20 °C), for the brave. Busy season, without the crush.
September. Mild, 20 °C in the afternoon and 13 °C early in the morning. Expect 12 days of rain in the month (85 mm). Cool sea (19 °C), for the brave. Busy season, without the crush.
October. Cool: 16 °C at best, 11 °C at night. Expect 13 days of rain in the month (85 mm). Sea at 17 °C, too cold to swim. Busy season, without the crush.
November. Cool: 11 °C at best, 7 °C at night. Frequent rain: 113 mm over 15 days. Sea at 14 °C, too cold to swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
December. Cool: 9 °C at best, 5 °C at night. A very wet month, 101 mm of rain over 16 days. Sea at 10 °C, too cold to swim. Quiet at the start of the month, then busier as the holidays approach.
Same season, other ideas
Their best time overlaps with this one: worth comparing before you book.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit the Bay of Somme?
April to June and September to October: over these months, recorded highs range from 14 to 20 °C, with 11 days of rain a month on average (2015-2024 records, Saint-Valery-sur-Somme).
Which month should you avoid in the Bay of Somme?
December: it is the wettest of the months to avoid, with 101 mm over 16 days of rain on average, according to 2015-2024 records at the reference point (Saint-Valery-sur-Somme).
What is the hottest month in the Bay of Somme?
August, with 22 °C on average in the afternoon and 16 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (Saint-Valery-sur-Somme).
What is the coldest month in the Bay of Somme?
January, with 8 °C at best during the day and 3 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (Saint-Valery-sur-Somme).
What is the driest month in the Bay of Somme?
April: 51 mm over 11 days of rain, against 113 mm in November, the wettest month.
When can you swim in the Bay of Somme?
The water stays cool all year (warmest 20 °C in August, measured in 2023-2024 on the nearest coast, Saint-Valery-sur-Somme): swimming is for the brave.
Plan this trip
📒 The free printable Bay of Somme guide: itinerary, map, where to sleep→
🧭 When to visit France: the country overview→
🗓️ Best time to visit: all our destinations→
Compare with other destinations
Photos: Susanne Jutzeler, suju-foto / Pexels · Aliguieri / Pexels · StefanM76 / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons) · PHILIPPE SERRAND / Pexels · Alexis B / Pexels · Emmanuel Codden / Pexels