Lyon is one of the largest cities of France. It is located in south-eastern part of the country between the Alps and the Massif Central mountains. However city itself lies on lowlands. Lyon has continental climate with certain features formed under influence of the Mediterranean Sea.

Summers are dry, sunny and hot with significant daily thermal gradient. Difference between day and night may reach 20 °C (36 °F). Despite massive bog reclamation Lyon is quite foggy. Most of winter are cool, windy and relatively dry though there is precipitation from time to time. Rime ice occurs more often than snow.

Seasons

Contents:

• Spring
• Summer
• Autumn
• Winter

Spring in Lyon

Main feature of spring in Lyon is humidity. There are 5 to 8 days with significant precipitation per each month with May being the rainiest among them. But despite rains spring is great time to visit the city at least to participate in some of main cultural events i.e. Quais du Polar literature festival or international festival of electronic music Nights Sounds. As for temperature it gradually increases from 11 °C (52 °F) at March to 19 °C (66 °F) at May. Nights are much cooler with range of 3-9 °C (37-48 °F).

Climate of the Spring Months

March Max average t°: +13 °C (55 °F) Min average t°: +3 °C (37 °F) Sundial in the day: 7 hours Rainy days: 4 days Precipitation: 60 mm (2.4")

April Max average t°: +16 °C (61 °F) Min average t°: +5 °C (42 °F) Sundial in the day: 8 hours Rainy days: 5 days Precipitation: 59 mm (2.3")

May Max average t°: +21 °C (69 °F) Min average t°: +9 °C (49 °F) Sundial in the day: 9 hours Rainy days: 6 days Precipitation: 79 mm (3.1")

Spring Holidays

March – Quais du Polar, National Grandmothers Day.
March 20 – International Day of French speakers (Journée Internationale de la francophonie).
March-April – Easter Celebrations.

April 1 – April Fool’s Day.

May – Nuits sonores.
May 1 – Labor Day.
May 8 – Freedom Day.

Summer in Lyon

Summer is the warmest season in Lyon with July and August being hottest time. Daytime average of the season reach peak at July at mark of 27 °C (81 °F) while at June and August it warms up to 23 °C (73 °F) and 25 °C (77 °F) respectively. Luckily there are bodies of water scattered over the territory of the city that can ease summer heat if it became exhausting. Visitors should regard cool nights with averages of 12-15 °C (53-59 °F). Showers are possible too for annual amount of precipitation of 825 mm (32.4”) is distributed over a year rather evenly.

Climate of the Summer Months

June Max average t°: +24 °C (76 °F) Min average t°: +13 °C (55 °F) Sundial in the day: 10.5 hours Rainy days: 6 days Precipitation: 71 mm (2.8")

July Max average t°: +27 °C (81 °F) Min average t°: +15 °C (59 °F) Sundial in the day: 11 hours Rainy days: 6 days Precipitation: 75 mm (2.9")

August Max average t°: +26 °C (79 °F) Min average t°: +14 °C (58 °F) Sundial in the day: 11 hours Rainy days: 3 days Precipitation: 54 mm (2.1")

Summer Holidays

Whole summer – Les Nuits de Fourvière.
June 21 – Day of the Music.
July 14 – Bastille Day.

Autumn in Lyon

Temperature ranges of autumn and general state of weather of Lyon at this season are pleasant. Complemented by some attractive events they make autumn most popular season to visit the city. September is the last threshold of summer with daily thermal gradient between 22 °C (71 °F) to 11 °C (52 °F). Through October and November air continues to cool down until daytime average reaches 10 °C (50 °F) at last month of the season. Amount and frequency of precipitation is almost equal to previous season. On the other hand fogs and cloudiness occur more often.

Climate of the Autumn Months

September Max average t°: +23 °C (73 °F) Min average t°: +12 °C (53 °F) Sundial in the day: 9 hours Rainy days: 4 days Precipitation: 47 mm (1.9")

October Max average t°: +17 °C (62 °F) Min average t°: +7 °C (45 °F) Sundial in the day: 7 hours Rainy days: 5 days Precipitation: 59 mm (2.3")

November Max average t°: +10 °C (51 °F) Min average t°: +4 °C (39 °F) Sundial in the day: 5.5 hours Rainy days: 6 days Precipitation: 75 mm (2.9")

Autumn Holidays

September – Dance biennale.
October – Lumiere Brothers Film Festival.
November – Holiday of "New Beaujolais".

Winter in Lyon

At winter daytime averages are in range of 5-8 °C (41-46 °F) and nighttime temperature sits around 0 °C (32 °F). The sky is covered with clouds most of time though winter is the driest season in Lyon at least comparing to other. Public activities are calming except couple of massive festivals. In general Lyon in winter serves as starting point of trips to numerous ski resorts of the area. Snow here is exceptionally but location is convenient to reach resorts in Alps.

Climate of the Winter Months

December Max average t°: +6 °C (44 °F) Min average t°: +0.5 °C (33 °F) Sundial in the day: 4.5 hour Rainy days: 4 days Precipitation: 63 mm (2.5")

January Max average t°: +6 °C (42 °F) Min average t°: -0.5 °C (31 °F) Sundial in the day: 4 hours Rainy days: 5 days Precipitation: 70 mm (2.8")

February Max average t°: +8 °C (46 °F) Min average t°: 0 °C (32 °F) Sundial in the day: 5.5 hours Rainy days: 4 days Precipitation: 50 mm (2.0")

Winter Holidays

December – Festival o Light, Christmas Fairs.
December 25 – Christmas.

January 1 – New Year’s Day.
February 14 – St. Valentine’s Day.