France weather in May
Considering a trip to France this May and wondering about the expected weather conditions? Find all the crucial information you need right here, addressing your question:
What is the weather like in France in May?
France has a wide variety of climate types. During May, you can expect temperatures that range from cold to warm and precipitation levels ranging from moderate to heavy.
The average highest temperatures fluctuate between cold in Aussois at 9°C to warm in Saint-Étienne-du-Grès at 25°C. Nighttime temperatures generally drop to 13°C in Saint-Étienne-du-Grès and -1°C in Aussois.
In May, precipitation varies across different areas. From moderate rainfall in Ersa with an average of 37 mm to heavy rainfall in Argelès-Gazost with 191 mm. The days are mostly sunny, with an average total of around 200 hours of sunshine in Paris. The sunlight during this month doesn't just make the days brighter, it also seems to make everyone a bit more cheerful.
For a closer look at May's conditions in France, see the map below. For a more detailed look at France's yearly weather, check out our France climate page.
Where to go in France in May
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Popular destinations in France
What is the weather like in May for the 5 most popular destinations in France?
Average weather in Paris
In May Paris generally has pleasant temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 20°C, minimum nighttime temperatures around 10°C and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are perfect that month.
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Average weather in Cannes
In May Cannes generally has pleasant temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 21°C, minimum nighttime temperatures around 14°C and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are perfect that month.
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Average weather in Nice
In May Nice generally has pleasant temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 20°C, minimum nighttime temperatures around 13°C and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are perfect that month.
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Average weather in Lyon
In May Lyon generally has pleasant temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 22°C, minimum nighttime temperatures around 11°C and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are perfect that month.
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Average weather in Chamonix-Mont-Blanc
In May Chamonix-Mont-Blanc generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 12°C, minimum nighttime temperatures around 1°C and high monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.
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Is your destination not in the list? Have a look at other destinations in France.
Is May the best time to visit France?
We consider May to be one of the best times to travel to France. Typically, the climate in Paris is perfect. It's worth noting that weather conditions might differ depending on the location you visit.
On average, the best time to visit France is in May, June, July, August and September with generally perfect weather in Paris. On the other hand, the months of January, February and December tend to have poor weather conditions.
Interested in more climate information?
We have much more information about the climate in France.
Interested in the weather conditions in a specific month? Select the month below.
Weather and climate has detailed information for every country in the world. Are you going to France? Get detailed historical weather averages for many cities in France.
Not sure yet where to go? We now have a tool which recommends destinations that suit your ideal climate conditions. Find out where to go with our weather planner.