Climate Insights for Arcachon

The climate in Arcachon is temperate. The average annual temperature is 15°C and approximately 981mm of precipitation falls per year. December is the wettest month, receiving around 137mm of rainfall. Arcachon is in the Northern Hemisphere. Summer begins at the end of June and lasts through September. The summer months are: August, July, September. The coldest months are January, February, March, when temperatures can drop to 8°C.

Arcachon sees moderate temperature variation throughout the year, ranging from 8°C to 23°C. August is the warmest month, though highs remain moderate at 23°C with a mean of 21°C. January is the coolest month, with minimum temperatures around 8°C and an average of 10°C. Daily temperature variation is modest, with an average difference of 3°C between highs and lows. The sharpest temperature change occurs between October and November, with a 4°C shift in average temperatures.

Arcachon is a moderately rainy area, receiving approximately 981mm of precipitation annually, which averages out to around 82mm per month. The wettest month is December, averaging 137mm of rainfall. November and January also tend to see above-average precipitation. The driest month is July, with just 23mm. That's 115mm less than December, the wettest month. Rainfall is heavily concentrated in certain months, creating a distinct wet and dry season. Visitors should plan around these patterns, as the difference between peak and low months is dramatic.

Arcachon is relatively calm, with an average annual wind speed of 5km/h. For context, sustained winds below 12km/h are generally light, while anything above 25km/h is considered strong. The windiest month is January, averaging 6km/h, though still comfortable for most outdoor activities. The calmest conditions occur in August, with average winds dropping to 4km/h, making it an ideal period for wind-sensitive activities. There is moderate seasonal variation in wind speed, with a 2km/h gap between the calmest and windiest months.

It is currently summer in Arcachon, which began on June 21, 2026. Arcachon is in the Northern Hemisphere, where spring begins in March, summer in June, autumn in September, and winter in December. The warmest period peaks in August at around 23°C, while the coldest stretch bottoms out in January near 8°C. Autumn is next, beginning on September 23, 2026 — 91 days from now.

The best time to visit Arcachon is during May, June, July, August, September and October, when the weather is most comfortable for travellers. During these months, average temperatures hover around 19°C with modest rainfall averaging 60mm per month. By contrast, January can be quite cold with temperatures dropping to 8°C. A light rain jacket is recommended, though showers are generally brief and shouldn't disrupt your plans.

The table below shows monthly climate averages for Arcachon based on historical weather data. Min and max temperatures represent typical overnight lows and afternoon highs for each month, shown in degrees Celsius (°C). Precipitation is measured in millimetres (mm) and indicates the average total rainfall per month. Wind speed is the average sustained speed in kilometres per hour (km/h). All values are based on averages from over 10 years of historical weather data. The current month is highlighted for quick reference.