Winter
Dec → Feb7 to 9°
nights 4 to 6°
- 14 rainy days · 86 mm
- sea 9°
When is the best time to visit the Opal Coast?
- Jan7°not recommended
- Feb8°not recommended
- Mar10°not recommended
- Apr12°fair
- May15°recommended
- Jun18°recommended
- Jul20°recommended
- Aug21°recommended
- Sep19°recommended
- Oct15°fair
- Nov11°not recommended
- Dec9°not recommended
RecommendedFairNot recommended· afternoon temperature
The weather in the Opal Coast, month by month
The table of records, month by month
| Month | High | Low | Rainfall | Rainy days | Sea | Best |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7° | 4° | 89 mm | 14 d | 9° | |
| February | 8° | 4° | 71 mm | 13 d | 8° | |
| March | 10° | 5° | 67 mm | 14 d | 9° | |
| April | 12° | 6° | 48 mm | 11 d | 10° | |
| May | 15° | 10° | 52 mm | 11 d | 13° | ✓ |
| June | 18° | 13° | 49 mm | 10 d | 16° | ✓ |
| July | 20° | 15° | 58 mm | 11 d | 19° | ✓ |
| August | 21° | 16° | 74 mm | 12 d | 20° | ✓ |
| September | 19° | 14° | 73 mm | 11 d | 19° | ✓ |
| October | 15° | 11° | 98 mm | 15 d | 16° | |
| November | 11° | 7° | 105 mm | 15 d | 13° | |
| December | 9° | 6° | 98 mm | 16 d | 10° |
The four seasons in the Opal Coast, in figures
What the 2015-2024 records (Cap Blanc-Nez) show, season by season, to compare at a glance instead of reading twelve rows of a table.
Spring
Mar → May10 to 15°
nights 5 to 10°
- 12 rainy days · 56 mm
- sea 11°
Summer
Jun → Aug18 to 21°
nights 13 to 16°
- 11 rainy days · 60 mm
- sea 18°
Autumn
Sep → Nov11 to 19°
nights 7 to 14°
- 14 rainy days · 92 mm
- 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 the Opal Coast, 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 16h30 of daylight, in December 7h57, a difference of 8h33.
8h24Jan
9h56Feb
11h43Mar
13h45Apr
15h30May
16h30Jun
16h05Jul
14h32Aug
12h32Sep
10h35Oct
8h50Nov
7h57Dec
Calculated for the latitude of the reference point "Cap Blanc-Nez" (50.92°). Values on the 15th of each month, local solar time.
What to do in the Opal Coast, month by month
EventsEnduropale at Le TouquetFebruaryHareng Roi in ÉtaplesNovemberDetails ↓
favourablewith compromisesunfavourable
- Towns & culture: April, May, June, July, August, September
- Long days: May, June, July, August
Grid derived from the records (temperature, rainfall, sea), not from an opinion.
What's on in the Opal Coast, month by month?
What comes back every year, and when. One of these events fills the hotels and pushes prices up: something to aim for or to avoid, depending on what you want.
- FebruaryEnduropale at Le Touquet big crowds
In early February, a tightly packed field of motorbikes sets off on Le Touquet beach for a race lasting several hours in the sand.
- NovemberHareng Roi in Étaples
Over a weekend in November, the port of Étaples smokes and grills herring on the quays, with a fish auction and boats open to the public.
Travelling off-peak
Month by month, in detail
January
Not recommended7°4° at night
- 89 mm · 14 d
- sea 9°
Low season, lower prices
February
Not recommended8°4° at night
- 71 mm · 13 d
- sea 8°
Busy, without the crush
March
Not recommended10°5° at night
- 67 mm · 14 d
- sea 9°
Low season, lower prices
April
Fair12°6° at night
- 48 mm · 11 d
- sea 10°
Low season, lower prices
May
Recommended15°10° at night
- 52 mm · 11 d
- sea 13°
Busy, without the crush
June
Recommended18°13° at night
- 49 mm · 10 d
- sea 16°
Busy, without the crush
July
Recommended20°15° at night
- 58 mm · 11 d
- sea 19°
High season, book early
August
Recommended21°16° at night
- 74 mm · 12 d
- sea 20°
High season, book early
September
Recommended19°14° at night
- 73 mm · 11 d
- sea 19°
Busy, without the crush
October
Fair15°11° at night
- 98 mm · 15 d
- sea 16°
Low season, lower prices
November
Not recommended11°7° at night
- 105 mm · 15 d
- sea 13°
Low season, lower prices
December
Not recommended9°6° at night
- 98 mm · 16 d
- sea 10°
Quiet, then the holidays
Read the twelve months in detail
January. Deep winter: 7 °C at the warmest of the day, 4 °C at night. A very wet month, 89 mm of rain over 14 days. Sea at 9 °C, too cold to swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
February. Cool: 8 °C at best, 4 °C at night. Expect 13 days of rain in the month (71 mm). Sea at 8 °C, too cold to swim. Busy season, without the crush.
March. Cool: 10 °C at best, 5 °C at night. A very wet month, 67 mm of rain over 14 days. Sea at 9 °C, too cold to swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
April. Cool: 12 °C at best, 6 °C at night. Expect 11 days of rain in the month (48 mm). Sea at 10 °C, too cold to swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
May. Cool: 15 °C at best, 10 °C at night. Expect 11 days of rain in the month (52 mm). Sea at 13 °C, too cold to swim. Busy season, without the crush.
June. Mild, 18 °C in the afternoon and 13 °C early in the morning. Expect 10 days of rain in the month (49 mm). Sea at 16 °C, too cold to swim. Busy season, without the crush.
July. Mild, 20 °C in the afternoon and 15 °C early in the morning. Expect 11 days of rain in the month (58 mm). 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. Expect 12 days of rain in the month (74 mm). Cool sea (20 °C), for the brave. High season: book early.
September. Mild, 19 °C in the afternoon and 14 °C early in the morning. Expect 11 days of rain in the month (73 mm). Cool sea (19 °C), for the brave. Busy season, without the crush.
October. Cool: 15 °C at best, 11 °C at night. Frequent rain: 98 mm over 15 days. Sea at 16 °C, too cold to swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
November. Cool: 11 °C at best, 7 °C at night. A very wet month, 105 mm of rain over 15 days. 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, 98 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 Opal Coast?
May to September: over these months, recorded highs range from 15 to 21 °C, with 11 days of rain a month on average (2015-2024 records, Cap Blanc-Nez).
Which month should you avoid in the Opal Coast?
November: it is the wettest of the months to avoid, with 105 mm over 15 days of rain on average, according to 2015-2024 records at the reference point (Cap Blanc-Nez).
What is the hottest month in the Opal Coast?
August, with 21 °C on average in the afternoon and 16 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (Cap Blanc-Nez).
What is the coldest month in the Opal Coast?
January, with 7 °C at best during the day and 4 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (Cap Blanc-Nez).
What is the driest month in the Opal Coast?
April: 48 mm over 11 days of rain, against 105 mm in November, the wettest month.
When can you swim in the Opal Coast?
The water stays cool all year (warmest 20 °C in August, measured in 2023-2024 on the nearest coast, Cap Blanc-Nez): swimming is for the brave.
Plan this trip
📒 The free printable Opal Coast 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: Jeffrey Brandjes / Pexels · Jujubier / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons) · Bingqian Li / Pexels