Bordeaux Weather

Bordeaux weather in a word? Fantastic! A Canadian here in mid February looks at purple primulas blooming in a Bordeaux garden and knows it's minus 21 degrees with the wind chill factor in Toronto the same day. Down coat and snow shovel will not be needed. Yes, fantastic is the right word.

Located in the southwest of France, the French love Bordeaux for its long hot summers and moderate winters.   With its proximity to the Atlantic Ocean, there are no temperature extremes. Summers are long, lasting from May until the beginning of October with average high temperatures equal to the French Riviera – averaging more than 26 degrees C in July and August. Temperatures in the high 20s and low 30s are common throughout the holiday months of June to September and October will still have many 20 plus degree days.

In early November you can usually still have lunch outside in the sun and be back to your garden table in February to watch daffodils and those primulas blooming in warm and sunny conditions. Think northern California weather. January is the coldest month with an average high of 9°C.

Sunshine hours for the extended region are high for the whole summer reaching a maximum daily average of 9 hours in July. Rainfall is moderate, falling in short showers and leaving most of the day in sunshine. 

Happily Bordeaux winters are mild due to the effect of westerly winds from the Atlantic. Rainfall peaks in December but the sun still shines twice as long as in the UK for the winter months. The coldest month is January with an average high of 9 degrees. Temperatures start to rise in February. Snow falls infrequently and rarely lingers.