, with mild, relatively rainy winters and hot, sunny summers, sometimes sultry, but tempered by the breeze.
The city is located on the Cote d'Azur, south-west of Nice, in the department of the Alpes-Maritimes, and overlooks the bay of Cannes (or Gulf of la Napoule).
We are in the French Riviera proper, the one that does not receive the cold and dry wind from the north called Mistral (which blows in the Rhone river valley), although in the stretch of coast between Sainte-Maxime and Antibes, a quite lively wind from the west can sometimes still blow.
Occasionally, rain can be intense and concentrated in a few hours, especially in September and October.
, from December to February, is mild, with sunny periods alternating with rainy periods.
Every now and then, when the wind blows from Russia, there can be cold waves as well. However, snow is very rare, and it may not fall for several years in a row.
Generally, in the coldest nights of the year, the temperature drops to around -2 °C (28 °F), however, on colder winters, it has dropped to lower values. The coldest record is -12 °C (10.4 °F) and was set in January 1985.
is hot and sunny, with very rare rains.
Cannes is quite sheltered from the heat waves of African origin that have recently been affecting France, and generally the temperature does not go above 33/34 °C (91/93 °F) on the hottest days of the year. However, the highest record is 38.3 °C (100.9 °F) and was set in August 2017.
never gets very warm, but it becomes altogether acceptable for swimming in July and August.
, from mid-April to mid-June. September is also a good month, but it is quite rainy. Summer, from mid-June to August, can be hot and muggy, even though it's the best time for those who also want to swim in the sea. Winter is generally mild, but it can sometimes get cold and it can rain.
. Here are the average temperatures.
January, the coldest month of the year, is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of
8.6 °C, with a minimum of
3.9 °C and a maximum of
13.4 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-1.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-5.8 °C in January 2005.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
18.5 °C. However, it reached
22.9 °C in January 2018.
Precipitation amounts to
75 mm, distributed over 6 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 25 minutes.
There are on average 5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 52% of the time.
The average humidity is 69%.
The average wind speed is of
8.5 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
13.5 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
February is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of
8.8 °C, with a minimum of
3.9 °C and a maximum of
13.7 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-0.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-4 °C in February 1999.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
18.5 °C. However, it reached
23.2 °C in February 1997.
Precipitation amounts to
40 mm, distributed over 5 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 30 minutes.
There are on average 6 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 59% of the time.
The average humidity is 67%.
The average wind speed is of
9.1 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
13.3 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
March is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of
11 °C, with a minimum of
6.3 °C and a maximum of
15.8 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
1 °C. However, it dropped to
-4.1 °C in March 2005.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
21.5 °C. However, it reached
27.9 °C in March 2015.
Precipitation amounts to
40 mm, distributed over 5 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 7.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 61% of the time.
The average humidity is 67%.
The average wind speed is of
9.8 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
13.5 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
April is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of
13.5 °C, with a minimum of
8.9 °C and a maximum of
18.1 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
4 °C. However, it dropped to
1.1 °C in April 1998.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
23 °C. However, it reached
26.6 °C in April 2012.
Precipitation amounts to
70 mm, distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 30 minutes.
There are on average 7.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 56% of the time.
The average humidity is 69%.
The average wind speed is of
9.6 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
14.4 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
May is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of
17.3 °C, with a minimum of
12.9 °C and a maximum of
21.7 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
8 °C. However, it dropped to
4.5 °C in May 1991.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
27 °C. However, it reached
31.6 °C in May 2006.
Precipitation amounts to
50 mm, distributed over 5 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 50 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 8.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 58% of the time.
The average humidity is 69%.
The average wind speed is of
9.2 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
16.9 °C. Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.
June is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of
21 °C, with a minimum of
16.7 °C and a maximum of
25.3 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
12.5 °C. However, it dropped to
8.9 °C in June 2006.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
31.5 °C. However, it reached
37.3 °C in June 2017.
Precipitation amounts to
30 mm, distributed over 4 days.
The day lasts on average 15 hours and 25 minutes. So the days are long. June 21, the summer solstice, is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 10.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 67% of the time.
The average humidity is 69%.
The average wind speed is of
9.4 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
20.1 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cool for swimming.
July is generally a warm to hot month. The average temperature is of
23.5 °C, with a minimum of
19 °C and a maximum of
28 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
15 °C. However, it dropped to
12.3 °C in July 2000.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
33.5 °C. However, it reached
37.4 °C in July 2019.
Precipitation amounts to
15 mm, distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 15 hours and 0 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 11 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 74% of the time.
The average humidity is 66%.
The average wind speed is of
9.6 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
22.9 °C. Therefore, the sea can be considered barely acceptable for swimming.
August, the warmest month of the year, is generally a warm to hot month. The average temperature is of
23.7 °C, with a minimum of
19 °C and a maximum of
28.4 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
15 °C. However, it dropped to
12.7 °C in August 2007.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
33.5 °C. However, it reached
38.3 °C in August 2017.
Precipitation amounts to
25 mm, distributed over 3 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 55 minutes.
There are on average 10 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 73% of the time.
The average humidity is 66%.
The average wind speed is of
9.1 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
23.9 °C. Therefore, the sea is warm enough for swimming.
September is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of
20.3 °C, with a minimum of
15.5 °C and a maximum of
25.1 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
11 °C. However, it dropped to
6.6 °C in September 2007.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
30 °C. However, it reached
35 °C in September 2009.
Precipitation amounts to
80 mm, distributed over 4 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 25 minutes.
There are on average 8.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 68% of the time.
The average humidity is 68%.
The average wind speed is of
8.9 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
22 °C. Therefore, the sea is cool for swimming.
October is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of
16.8 °C, with a minimum of
12.3 °C and a maximum of
21.2 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
6.5 °C. However, it dropped to
2 °C in October 1997.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
26 °C. However, it reached
31 °C in October 1997.
Precipitation amounts to
120 mm, distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 6 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 57% of the time.
The average humidity is 73%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
8.4 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
19.7 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cool for swimming.
November is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of
12.6 °C, with a minimum of
8.1 °C and a maximum of
17 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
2 °C. However, it dropped to
-3 °C in November 1998.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
21.5 °C. However, it reached
25.7 °C in November 2004.
Precipitation amounts to
105 mm, distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 35 minutes.
There are on average 5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 52% of the time.
The average humidity is 72%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
8.1 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
17 °C. Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.
December is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of
9.4 °C, with a minimum of
4.8 °C and a maximum of
14.1 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-1 °C. However, it dropped to
-4.2 °C in December 2005.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
18.5 °C. However, it reached
20.7 °C in December 2004.
Precipitation amounts to
95 mm, distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 0 minutes. December 21, the winter solstice, is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 4.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 48% of the time.
The average humidity is 71%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
8.5 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
14.7 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.