Marseille is situated on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea with respective weather conditions. Winters are mild and sunny in general though sometimes this time of a year may be cool or even cold with temperature range of several degrees below freezing. Snow is exceptionally rare. Spring has rather stable weather with gradual warming.

Summer weather of Marseille is typical for northern coasts of the Mediterranean Sea. It is sunny hot with minimal precipitation. In opposite autumn differs from other localities of the region. It is rainy and comes earlier after short velvet season.

Seasons

Contents:

• Spring
• Summer
• Autumn
• Winter

Spring in Marseille

Main feature of spring in the city is gradual warming. Temperature reaches 11 °C (52 °F) at March and grows to about 18 °C (64 °F). Having relatively high averages temperature varies from 15 °C (59 °F) to 24 °C (75 °F) at afternoon so having light jacket packed will come in handy especially at beginning of season. Water temperature grows too from 11 °C (52 °F) at March to 18 °C (64 °F) at May.

Comparing to previous season spring is relatively dry with variation of monthly precipitation between 33 mm (1.2”) and 52 mm (2”). April is the rainiest month with up to 10 days with significant precipitation. Amount of sunshine hours increases too reaching 9 per day at May.

Climate of the Spring Months

March Max average t°: +15 °C (58 °F) Min average t°: +6 °C (42 °F) Water t°: +13.5 °C (56 °F) Sundial in the day: 9 hours Rainy days: 3 days Precipitation: 38 mm (1.5")

April Max average t°: +17 °C (63 °F) Min average t°: +8 °C (46 °F) Water t°: +14.5 °C (58 °F) Sundial in the day: 10 hours Rainy days: 3 days Precipitation: 37 mm (1.4")

May Max average t°: +21.5 °C (71 °F) Min average t°: +12 °C (53 °F) Water t°: +16.5 °C (62 °F) Sundial in the day: 12 hours Rainy days: 2 days Precipitation: 30 mm (1.2")

Spring Holidays

March-April – Easter Celebrations.

April – Holy Music festival.
April 1 – April Fool’s Day.

May 1 – Labor Day.
May 8 – Freedom Day

Summer in Marseille

Summer in Marseille is warm and dry. Temperature averages are in range of 27-30 °C (80-86 °F) with July and August being hottest months of a year. At evenings temperature drops by couple of degrees still staying in pleasant range of mid-20^th by Celsius (upper 70^th by Fahrenheit). In terms of precipitation summer is the driest season with no more than 70 mm in all three month only 10 of which are at July. If rain occurs it takes form of short torrential shower. Water in the Mediterranean Sea warms up to 25 °C (77 °F) at August and amount of daylight hours reaches 11.

Climate of the Summer Months

June Max average t°: +26 °C (78 °F) Min average t°: +15 °C (59 °F) Water t°: +20 °C (68 °F) Sundial in the day: 13.5 hours Rainy days: 2 days Precipitation: 25 mm (1.0")

July Max average t°: +29 °C (84 °F) Min average t°: +18 °C (64 °F) Water t°: +22 °C (72 °F) Sundial in the day: 14 hours Rainy days: 2 days Precipitation: 17 mm (0.7")

August Max average t°: +28 °C (82 °F) Min average t°: +17 °C (63 °F) Water t°: +23 °C (73 °F) Sundial in the day: 13 hours Rainy days: 1 day Precipitation: 15 mm (0.6")

Summer Holidays

June – Festival of Marseille.
June 21 – Day of the Music.

July – Marseille petanque tournament, FIDMarseille documentary festival, Marseille Pride.
July 14 – Bastille Day.

August – Diaspora Music and Culture festival.

Autumn in Marseille

Actually cold weather is rare in Marseille. September in many ways is summer month except it is much rainier and slightly cooler. In this one month there is more precipitation than in whole summer season. Daily averages of September are ranging between 21 °C (70 °F) and 15 °C (59 °F). With progress of season temperature drops lower until 11 °C (52 °F) at November.

October is one of the rainiest months of a year while at November precipitation decreases as well as amount of sunshine hours. At September there are up to 8 hours daily and by November their amount is about 5 because off cloudiness too.

Climate of the Autumn Months

September Max average t°: +24 °C (76 °F) Min average t°: +14.5 °C (58 °F) Water t°: +22 °C (72 °F) Sundial in the day: 11 hours Rainy days: 2 days Precipitation: 19 mm (0.7")

October Max average t°: +20 °C (67 °F) Min average t°: +11 °C (51 °F) Water t°: +20 °C (68 °F) Sundial in the day: 9 hours Rainy days: 3 days Precipitation: 59 mm (2.3")

November Max average t°: +14 °C (58 °F) Min average t°: +6 °C (43 °F) Water t°: +17.5 °C (64 °F) Sundial in the day: 7 hours Rainy days: 4 days Precipitation: 72 mm (2.8")

Autumn Holidays

October – Fiesta des Suds.
November – Bazar Festival.

Winter in Marseille

Winter is naturally the coldest season of a year however temperature rarely drops below freezing. Even nights of January, the coldest month, are having around 3 °C (37 °F). Usual afternoon temperature for whole season is about 12 °C (53 °F). As for precipitation there are about 50 mm (1.9”) of it per each month. Also winter is the darkest season with average amount of daylight hours around 4. Of course at February amount of light starts to grow.

Climate of the Winter Months

December Max average t°: +11 °C (51 °F) Min average t°: +3 °C (38 °F) Water t°: +15.5 °C (60 °F) Sundial in the day: 6.5 hour Rainy days: 3 days Precipitation: 38 mm (1.5")

January Max average t°: +10 °C (50 °F) Min average t°: +2 °C (36 °F) Water t°: +14 °C (57 °F) Sundial in the day: 6.5 hours Rainy days: 2 days Precipitation: 32 mm (1.3")

February Max average t°: +12 °C (53 °F) Min average t°: +3 °C (37 °F) Water t°: +13 °C (55 °F) Sundial in the day: 7.5 hours Rainy days: 3 days Precipitation: 38 mm (1.5")

Winter Holidays

December 25 – Christmas.
January 1 – New Year’s Day.

February – Fete de la Chandeleur (day of pancackes).
February 14 – St. Valentine’s Day.