Winter
Dec → Feb8 to 10°
nights 5 to 6°
- 17 rainy days · 111 mm
- 4.7 h of sun
- sea 9°
When is the best time to visit Normandy?
- Jan8°not recommended
- Feb10°not recommended
- Mar11°not recommended
- Apr13°fair
- May16°recommended
- Jun19°recommended
- Jul21°recommended
- Aug21°recommended
- Sep20°recommended
- Oct17°fair
- Nov12°not recommended
- Dec9°not recommended
RecommendedFairNot recommended· afternoon temperature
The weather in Normandy, month by month
The table of records, month by month
| Month | High | Low | Sunshine | Rainfall | Rainy days | Sea | Best |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 8° | 5° | 4.3 h | 111 mm | 17 d | 9° | |
| February | 10° | 6° | 5.7 h | 89 mm | 15 d | 9° | |
| March | 11° | 6° | 7.5 h | 79 mm | 15 d | 9° | |
| April | 13° | 7° | 10.5 h | 61 mm | 12 d | 11° | |
| May | 16° | 10° | 11.5 h | 62 mm | 12 d | 14° | ✓ |
| June | 19° | 13° | 12.4 h | 62 mm | 14 d | 17° | ✓ |
| July | 21° | 15° | 12.3 h | 84 mm | 15 d | 19° | ✓ |
| August | 21° | 16° | 10.9 h | 69 mm | 14 d | 20° | ✓ |
| September | 20° | 15° | 9.1 h | 95 mm | 13 d | 19° | ✓ |
| October | 17° | 12° | 7 h | 121 mm | 16 d | 17° | |
| November | 12° | 9° | 5 h | 132 mm | 18 d | 13° | |
| December | 9° | 6° | 4.1 h | 133 mm | 19 d | 10° |
The four seasons in Normandy, in figures
What the 2015-2024 records (Étretat) show, season by season, to compare at a glance instead of reading twelve rows of a table.
Spring
Mar → May11 to 16°
nights 6 to 10°
- 13 rainy days · 67 mm
- 9.8 h of sun
- sea 11°
Summer
Jun → Aug19 to 21°
nights 13 to 16°
- 14 rainy days · 72 mm
- 11.9 h of sun
- sea 19°
Autumn
Sep → Nov12 to 20°
nights 9 to 15°
- 16 rainy days · 116 mm
- 7 h of sun
- sea 16°
Book early for May to September
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 Normandy, 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 16h17 of daylight, in December 8h08, a difference of 8h09.
8h34Jan
10h02Feb
11h44Mar
13h41Apr
15h21May
16h17Jun
15h54Jul
14h26Aug
12h31Sep
10h39Oct
8h59Nov
8h08Dec
Calculated for the latitude of the reference point "Étretat" (49.71°). Values on the 15th of each month, local solar time.
What to do in Normandy, month by month
What to see and do
| Activity | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beach & swimming | ||||||||||||
| Sightseeing & walks | ||||||||||||
| Long days | ||||||||||||
| Events | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
EventsD-Day commemorationsJuneDeauville American Film FestivalSeptemberScallop festivalNovemberApple blossomApril to MayDetails ↓
favourablewith compromisesunfavourable
- Sightseeing & walks: April, May
- Long days: May, June, July, August
Grid derived from the records (temperature, rainfall, sea), not from an opinion.
What's on in Normandy, month by month?
What comes back every year, and when. These events fill the hotels and push prices up: something to aim for or to avoid, depending on what you want.
- JuneD-Day commemorations big crowds
Ceremonies on the beaches, parachute drops and period vehicles from the Cotentin to Ouistreham, in the first days of the month.
- SeptemberDeauville American Film Festival big crowds
American premieres and their casts and crews take over the boardwalk and the Centre International for ten days.
- NovemberScallop festival
Port-en-Bessin opens its scallop season: tastings on the quays, trawler visits and a lively fish auction.
- April to MayApple blossom
The orchards of the Pays d'Auge and the Cotentin turn pinkish white for two to three weeks, depending on how mild the spring is.
Travelling off-peak
Month by month, in detail
January
Not recommended8°5° at night
- 111 mm · 17 d
- 4.3 h
- sea 9°
Low season, lower prices
February
Not recommended10°6° at night
- 89 mm · 15 d
- 5.7 h
- sea 9°
Low season, lower prices
March
Not recommended11°6° at night
- 79 mm · 15 d
- 7.5 h
- sea 9°
Low season, lower prices
April
Fair13°7° at night
- 61 mm · 12 d
- 10.5 h
- sea 11°
Low season, lower prices
May
Recommended16°10° at night
- 62 mm · 12 d
- 11.5 h
- sea 14°
Busy, without the crush
June
Recommended19°13° at night
- 62 mm · 14 d
- 12.4 h
- sea 17°
High season, book early
July
Recommended21°15° at night
- 84 mm · 15 d
- 12.3 h
- sea 19°
High season, book early
August
Recommended21°16° at night
- 69 mm · 14 d
- 10.9 h
- sea 20°
High season, book early
September
Recommended20°15° at night
- 95 mm · 13 d
- 9.1 h
- sea 19°
High season, book early
October
Fair17°12° at night
- 121 mm · 16 d
- 7 h
- sea 17°
Low season, lower prices
November
Not recommended12°9° at night
- 132 mm · 18 d
- 5 h
- sea 13°
Low season, lower prices
December
Not recommended9°6° at night
- 133 mm · 19 d
- 4.1 h
- sea 10°
Quiet, then the holidays
Read the twelve months in detail
January. Cool: 8 °C at best, 5 °C at night. A very wet month, 111 mm of rain over 17 days. Sunshine gets scarcer (4.3 h a day). Sea at 9 °C, too cold to swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
February. Cool: 10 °C at best, 6 °C at night. A very wet month, 89 mm of rain over 15 days. Sunshine gets scarcer (5.7 h a day). Sea at 9 °C, too cold to swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
March. Cool: 11 °C at best, 6 °C at night. A very wet month, 79 mm of rain over 15 days. Expect 7.5 h of sunshine a day. Sea at 9 °C, too cold to swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
April. Cool: 13 °C at best, 7 °C at night. Expect 12 days of rain in the month (61 mm). Plenty of sunshine: 10.5 h a day on average. Sea at 11 °C, too cold to swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
May. Cool: 16 °C at best, 10 °C at night. Expect 12 days of rain in the month (62 mm). Plenty of sunshine: 11.5 h a day on average. Sea at 14 °C, too cold to swim. Busy season, without the crush.
June. Mild, 19 °C in the afternoon and 13 °C early in the morning. Frequent but light showers: 62 mm over 14 days. Plenty of sunshine: 12.4 h a day on average. Sea at 17 °C, too cold to swim. High season: book early.
July. Mild, 21 °C in the afternoon and 15 °C early in the morning. Frequent rain: 84 mm over 15 days. Plenty of sunshine: 12.3 h a day on average. Cool sea (19 °C), for the brave. High season: book early.
August. Mild, 21 °C in the afternoon and 16 °C early in the morning. Frequent but light showers: 69 mm over 14 days. Plenty of sunshine: 10.9 h a day on average. Cool sea (20 °C), for the brave. High season: book early.
September. Mild, 20 °C in the afternoon and 15 °C early in the morning. Expect 13 days of rain in the month (95 mm). Plenty of sunshine: 9.1 h a day on average. Cool sea (19 °C), for the brave. High season: book early.
October. Cool: 17 °C at best, 12 °C at night. Frequent rain: 121 mm over 16 days. Expect 7 h of sunshine a day. Sea at 17 °C, too cold to swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
November. Cool: 12 °C at best, 9 °C at night. A very wet month, 132 mm of rain over 18 days. Sunshine gets scarcer (5 h a day). Sea at 13 °C, too cold to swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
December. Cool: 9 °C at best, 6 °C at night. A very wet month, 133 mm of rain over 19 days. Sunshine gets scarcer (4.1 h a day). 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 Normandy?
May to September: over these months, recorded highs range from 16 to 21 °C, with 14 days of rain a month on average (2015-2024 records, Étretat).
Which month should you avoid in Normandy?
December: it is the wettest of the months to avoid, with 133 mm over 19 days of rain on average, according to 2015-2024 records at the reference point (Étretat).
What is the hottest month in Normandy?
July, with 21 °C on average in the afternoon and 15 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (Étretat).
What is the coldest month in Normandy?
January, with 8 °C at best during the day and 5 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (Étretat).
What is the driest month in Normandy?
April: 61 mm over 12 days of rain, against 133 mm in December, the wettest month.
Which month has the most sunshine in Normandy?
June, with 12.4 h of sunshine a day on average. Note that this counts clear skies, not the length of the day.
When can you swim in Normandy?
The water stays cool all year (warmest 20 °C in August, measured in 2023-2024 on the nearest coast, Étretat): swimming is for the brave.
Plan this trip
📒 The free printable Normandy 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: SlimMars 13 / Pexels · Tugce Turan / Pexels · Hub JACQU / Pexels