Does it Snow in France?
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Yes. It does snow in France. That is the short answer.
However, the long answer is the amount of snow that falls in France varies greatly from region to region, just as it varies greatly here, in the US, from state to state.
In fact, it snows in France in most regions, but only a few of them get heavy snowfall.
Most regions will receive a light dusting to a few inches of snow during winter in France.
Yes. It snows in France.
The climate differs so significantly from region to region in France that the temperature will depend on which region you visit.
Below, we explained snowfall by region to give you a better idea of what you’ll get if you visit France during the winter months, which are from November/December to March.
- Yes, it does snow in France, depending on the region.
- Different regions get varying degrees of snowfall.
- France has four different climates within its border.
France’s Four Climates
France experiences several different climates due to its diverse geographical features. Generally, the country is categorized into four main climatic regions:
Mediterranean Climate
South-eastern France. Hot summer and rainy winter season.
Continental Climate
Central and eastern France. Colder winters and hotter summers.
Mountain Climate
The western side of France. Heavy rainfall and heavy snowfall. Of course, this is where France sees the most snow. In the mountains, the Alps. Where some of the best skiing in the world can be found.
Oceanic Climate
Central and eastern France. Very rainy with very few drastic weather changes. With moderate temperatures throughout the year.
When Does It Snow in France?
Like parts of the United States, France enjoys four seasons: winter, spring, fall, and winter.
Spring – March to May.
Summer – June to September
Fall – October to December
Winter – December to March
Does It Snow in France at Christmas?
Yes, it does snow during Christmas in France, but don’t expect heavy snowfall. It will typically be a light dusting.
Snow in France?
In France, there are great variations in climate from region to region; thus, snowfall varies greatly from region to region.
When Is Winter in France, According to the French Calendar?
Like in parts of the US, winter in France takes place between November and March, but officially per the French calendar, winter starts on December 21 and ends on March 20.
What Month Does It Snow in France?
Depends on which region you are asking about.
Where Does It Snow in France
The Mediterranean coast – receives the least amount of snowfall. Snow is scarce on the Mediterranean coast. Snowfall does occur from Perpignan to Nice but because of the Mediterranean climate, these areas get only between 1 and 3 days of snowfall per year due to the cold eastern flow from the Alps.
Western Regions – Brittany to the Toulouse region. Less than ten days of snow per year.
Northern France – Centre-Val-de-Loire and the Hauts-de-France (including the English Channel and the North Sea coasts) regions receive an average of 10 to 15 snow days per year.
Central France – Between the north of Limousin and Picardy receives an average of 15 to 20 days of snow per year.
The Saône valley in Burgundy has a similar climate.
Central France – The Champagne region and the Massif Central through Burgundy have an average of 20 to 25 days of snow per year. The cold air descends from Central Europe.
Eastern Regions – Snowfall is most frequent in the easternmost regions, particularly in: Lorraine, Franche-Comté, Alsace, and the Ardennes. These regions average 25 to 30 days of snow annually, occasionally 35 in exposed areas.
Eastern Regions for the most snow – the Vosges, the Jura, the Alps, the Massif Central, or the Pyrenees.
Eastern Region – The Alps can get up to 20 inches of snow during the peak of the winter season, the first days of January and last days of February.
A Summation of Snowfall per Region
Least amount of snow in France:
Coastal regions. Which are the lowest points in France. They are still chilly during the winter months, but little snow falls.
Most snow in France:
The Alps and the Pyrenees, where temperatures often fall below zero. The average temperature ranges from 32 F to 45 F.
Mont Blanc is France’s highest peak (15,800 ft) and is covered year-round with snow and ice.
Does It Snow in Paris
Yes, it frequently snows in Paris, but more of a light dusting. Rarely does Paris get heavy snow that stays on the ground for long.
Paris, the capital city of France and the most populous city, has an elevation between 92 feet to 430 feet above sea level.
The Weather in Paris
Paris gets around 8 snow days per winter, an average of 11 inches total during the winter season.
- Average high: 47.85 °F (8.8 °C).
- Daily mean: 43.15 °F (6.1 °C).
- Average low: 38.37 °F (3.5 °C).
- Average precipitation per winter month: 1.94 inches (4.9 cm).
The Coldest and Snowiest Month in Paris?
January.
Paris gets the most snow in January. In January, the temperature is an average of 36 degrees Fahrenheit.
Winter in Paris means fewer hours of sunshine and cold days and nights.
In the last ten years, Paris has seen heavy snowfall that has halted travel in: March 2013, February 2018, and February 2021
Which City in France Has Seen the Most Snowfall?
Saint-Étienne.
According to the weather statistics, Saint-Étienne is, on average, the snowiest city in France, even though the city is not located in the mountains.
Saint-Étienne is located in eastern-central France, in the Massif Central (37 mi) southwest of Lyon.
Saint-Etienne sits along the Furan Valley and is bordered by 6 main hills:
- Mont d’Or and Montaud to the west
- Mont Dormand (Vivaraize)
- Villeboeuf Le Haut, Montferré
- Crêt-de-Roc to the east
In 2005, Saint-Étienne received more than 4 feet of snow.
Other Snowy Towns in France
Snow mostly falls in the French Alps and Pyrenees. Even so, snow flurries are seen in some cities and towns located in high-altitude areas or close to the mountains during winter.
Grenoble in the Alps gets 1 -2 feet of snow on average and is associated with snow and winter sports due to its surrounding mountains.
Marseille and Colmar enjoy good sunshine all year round and get a bit of snowfall. There are 1.1 snowfall days throughout the year, and 3mm (0.12″) of snow is accumulated.
Mouthe, a small village in the Jura, is the coldest village in the country. In Mouthe, during the entire year, snow falls for 73 days and aggregates up to 3120mm (122.83″) of snow.
Megève – Months with snowfall are January through May and October through December. December in Megève is the month with the most snowfall. Snow falls for 10.3 days and accumulates 384mm (15.12″) of snow.
Chamonix is located in the French Alps, along the border between Switzerland and Italy, and experiences around 32 days of snowfall each year, an average of about 429 inches.
Foix has an average daily high temperature below 54°F. The coldest month of the year in Foix is January, with an average low of 33°F and high of 48°F. Foix only sees about an inch of snow each winter.
Pau – only gets up to 2 inches of snow during winter.
What Is the Rainiest Place in France?
Biarritz is one of the rainiest cities in France.
Snowfall by Two Big Cities in France
Does It Snow in Strasbourg?
Strasbourg is a city in France located near the border with Germany.
The coldest month is January, with an average low temperature of 30.7 degrees Fahrenheit (0.7 degrees Celsius). Strasbourg gets the most snow in December, February, and March.
It is snowiest in December, falling for 4.4 days and accumulating up to 1.57 inches (40 millimeters) of snow.
Strasbourg in Alsace gets about one foot of snow on average.
Although winter is cold and overcast, Strasbourg does not usually drop below freezing, and snow is not that common.
Does It Snow in Bordeaux?
Bordeaux is a city located close to the Atlantic coast in southwestern France.
The coldest month is January, with an average low temperature of 40.1 degrees Fahrenheit (4.5 degrees Celsius).
Bordeaux receives snowfall in December, February, and March with a yearly cumulative of 0.28 inches (7 millimeters).
Snowfall is infrequent and only happens on average once every three years.
Winter Activities in France and the Towns Where You Can Really Enjoy the Snow
Skiing in France
There is no better place to ski than the French Alps because it is breathtaking. During the winter months (November to February – March in the Alps) in France, the best activity to enjoy the beautiful mountains is skiing on them.
Snowfall in the Alps
Stretching across France’s southeast Rhône-Alpes and Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur regions, the French Alps boast some of the most famous ski resorts in the world, such as Chamonix, Serre Chevalier, and Courchevel.
The alps don’t just offer amazing skiing for pros to amateurs. If skiing isn’t your thing, but you want to be surrounded by winter, you can enjoy the little chocolate-box towns located at the bottom of some of the best skiing in the world and enjoy views of snowy peaks, shopping in town, cable car rides and horse-drawn carriage rides.
Four of the Best Places to Ski in France
Saint Gervais-Les-Bains
You can easily get to Saint Gervais-Les-Bains from Paris. It has impressive slopes and a chill ski resort vibe.
Val Cenis
Located in a quaint French town surrounded by beautiful mountains, Val Cenis is a fantastic ski resort you won’t forget.
Les 3 Vallées
Close to Paris and less crowded than other ski resorts in France is Three Valleys Ski Area or Les 3 Vallées. Great slopes with amazing views.
Tignes – Val d’Isere Ski Resort
Val d’Isère ski area is one of the one of the most beautiful and extensive ski areas in the Savoie region. While tackling the iconic face of Bellevarde while having a magnificent view of the Alps.
Other Winter Activities in France
Skiing in places of than the Alps, like The Pyrenees Mountains which line the southern border with Spain and boasts more than 40 resorts with well-groomed slopes and incredible views.
The Pyrenees mountains are a relatively young mountain belt, being part of the Alpine mountain chain, but contain much older rocks than the Alps and are often unfairly overlooked for their Alpine cousins.
But the Pyrenees are a great place to ski.
Grand Tourmalet is the largest ski resort in the Pyrénées, with 70 runs.
Worth a Visit
The Pic du Midi mountain is famous for its landmark observatory and steep slopes.
Cauterets is another resort gaining in popularity and a favorite for its thermal spa. Open all year round, except for December and January.
Christmas Markets – Marchés de Noël
I love all things Christmas, especially the lead up and the decorating. For every town and city we visit, we try to pick up an ornament for our Christmas tree that offers a small keepsake of our time in different places which we place on the tree each Christmas as a reminder of the places we’ve been.
Some of the best Christmas markets, or marché de Noël, are in France. Check out the best Christmas markets in Europe to feed your Christmas decor desires.
Some of the best can be found up north neighboring Germany, the motherland of Christmas Markets.
Christkindelsmärik
Christkindelsmärik is Strasbourg’s annual market and is one of the most enchanting Christmas Markets.
Every year, it draws visitors in their thousands to Alsace, keen to enjoy its illuminated stalls and a giant Christmas tree in the center of the market.
The Christmas market in Mulhouse is a small but dazzling affair, packed with stalls and fairground rides, set against the impressive Temple Saint-Étienne church.
What to Pack for When It Snows in France
If you’re visiting the south of France or the west coast, you can get away with packing clothing and gear for mild winter conditions.
But do bring a warm jacket, sweater, and a scarf in case temperatures dip into the 40s which they can.
Bring a heavy winter coat, scarf, gloves, and hat for trips to Paris, Central, Eastern, and Northern France.
Also, pack warm sweaters and socks. It is always a good idea to travel with layers.
In Sum: Does it Snow in France?
It snows in France. It snows in Paris and regions other than the Alps, where they get the most snow.
It also snows during Christmas in France, as in Paris, although you will only get a light dusting most years on average. However, January is the coldest month in most parts of France and sees the most snowfall.
So if you are going to France during their winter, December to January, make sure you pack clothes and a jacket that keeps you warm when the temperatures drop.
