Southern
Brittany beach
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Atlantic
storm
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Brittany's
climate and weather
In terms of climate,
Brittany is warmer and drier
than the south of England, particularly in summer. The south coast of
Brittany can be scorching in July and August, if the weather conditions
are right. However, being in the north western part of France, the
weather can also set in cloudy and wet at any thime of the year, just
as it can in Devon or Cornwall. The Finistère area of
western
Brittany tends to be the coolest in summer, while the south coast of
Morbihan, benefiting from a sunny microclimate, is the warmest. In
winter time,
Brittany benefits from a remarkably mild climate, particularly in the
extreme west where frost and snow are relatively rare. Nonetheless, if
a cold winter wind is blowing from the east, temperatures
can fall
to -5° or below even in Brest.
In terms of average annual temperature,
Vannes, in the Morbihan, is two degrees warmer than Saint Brieuc, in
the Côtes d'Armor, due notably to the fact that the south of
Brittany gets more sunshine. Conversely, as far as sea temperatures are
concerned, the waters of the north coast are one or two degrees warmer
on average than those on the south coast, on account of
the Gulf
Stream which flows up the English Channel, but not so much into the Bay
of Biscay.
The mildness of the climate has been a
strong factor
in the development of tourism in Brittany, but also for the region's
agricultural sector. Nurseries growing plants under glass or in open
fields provide early crops for the French market and for other parts of
Europe, particularly with crops that are not heavily exported from the
warmer areas of southern Spain.
Exposed to the Atlantic airstream,
Brittany is a windy region, making it particularly popular with sailing
enthusiasts. Many of France's most famous yachtsmen, such as Eric
Tabarly, have hailed from Brittany, and yachting is a major tourist
activity around all round the coast. On occasions however, yachtsmen
are advised to moor their craft in the region's many sheltered
anchorages or harbours; when the Breton coastline is in the throes of a
major Atlantic storm, with waves of up to 30 feet crashing on the rocks
and the sea defences, thoughts go out for those in peril on the sea.
Almost every year, the media report the loss at sea of Breton
fishermen .
Brittany average temperatures:
| Towns |
January |
April |
July |
October |
| Rennes |
8 |
15 |
23 |
17 |
| Brest |
9 |
13 |
20 |
16 |
|
|
Practical
|
