Cantal - Climate

Climate

The department of the Cantal has different types of climates according to the geographical position.

The west is well watered, thanks to abundant precipitations coming from the Atlantic. The temperatures are generally even; the east is much drier and cooler.

There is abundant precipitation on the central area. To this fact, it is necessary to add the effect of the altitude: the climate is quite cold in winter (it snows almost every winter) but it can be very hot during the summer, especially in the southern part of the department with borders with Aveyron and Lot.

In the central part of the department, i.e. on the highest ground, the altitude surpasses 1,000m and It can be very cold. There is abundant snowfall which can remain up to six months on the tops. Winter temperatures can fall to below −15 °C (5 °F), whereas in summer 25 °C (77 °F) is often reached.

The television weather forecasts often indicate Aurillac as the coldest city of France in the mornings. The temperatures observed by Météo France are explained by the following:

• The scientific weather station of Aurillac is at an altitude of 640 m.
• The temperature diminishes at 1 °C (34 °F) each 150 m.
• Météo France puts an index of only 30 cities on the map, and Aurillac is by far the one with the highest altitude.

Fog is rare and disappears quickly. There is sunshine throughout year and the wind is not usually strong. The annual sunshine hours reflect Cantal's southerly latitude (the same as Bordeaux's). Average number of hours of sunshine from 1991 to 2000:

Nîmes: 2590 h – Millau : 2120 h – Aurillac: 2080 h – Toulouse: 2010 h – Bordeaux: 1990 h – Lyon: 1930 h – Limoges: 1870 h – Tours: 1800 h – Nantes: 1690 h – Paris: 1630 h.

The Cantal is a mountainous department whose altitude varies between 250 m in the valley of the River Lot and 1855 m in the top of Plomb du Cantal. The temperature variations can be very high from one place to another. It is not colder in the Cantal than in other mountainous regions like the Vosges or Jura. The prevailing winds and the relief divide the Cantal into four climatic zones:

• The west is subject to oceanic winds which bring rains.
• The mountains of the Cantal and the Cézallier create a rain shadow: it rains and snows quite often.
• The Planèze of Saint-Flour and the region of Massiac receive less precipitation, owing to winds coming from the north and south.
• The plateaux of the Margeride and the Aubrac have harsh winters and pleasant summers.

Cantal are frequently experiences violent summer storms. According to specialists, the lightning flashes in this department are among the most spectacular in France.