Climate Insights for Marseille

The climate in Marseille is temperate. The average annual temperature is 16°C and approximately 606mm of precipitation falls per year. November is the wettest month, receiving around 112mm of rainfall. Marseille 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, December, when temperatures can drop to 8°C.

Marseille sees moderate temperature variation throughout the year, ranging from 8°C to 26°C. The warmest month is August, when average highs reach 26°C and the mean temperature sits around 24°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 4°C between highs and lows. The sharpest temperature change occurs between May and June, with a 4°C shift in average temperatures.

Marseille is a relatively dry area, receiving approximately 606mm of precipitation annually, which averages out to around 50mm per month. The wettest month is November, averaging 112mm of rainfall. October and April also tend to see above-average precipitation. The driest month is July, with just 10mm. That's 102mm less than November, 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.

Marseille is relatively calm, with an average annual wind speed of 6km/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 7km/h, though still comfortable for most outdoor activities. The calmest conditions occur in August, with average winds dropping to 5km/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 spring in Marseille, which began on March 20, 2026. Marseille 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 26°C, while the coldest stretch bottoms out in January near 8°C. Summer is next, beginning on June 21, 2026 — 4 days from now.

The best time to visit Marseille is during May, June, July, August, September and October, when the weather is most comfortable for travellers. During these months, average temperatures hover around 21°C with modest rainfall averaging 38mm 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 Marseille 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.