The Climate

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Deceptively mild average temperatures conceal dramatic extremes. Hot, dry summers can be plagued with forest fires. If the Sirocco (a gusty wind off the Sahara) blows, it sometimes deposits a fine layer of red desert sand along coastal areas and turns dusk purple or yellow. Relief comes in the form of short, violent thunderstorms that can drop more than five inches in an hour.

Autumn and spring are the rainiest seasons and, in winter, the steady howl of the Mistral can make temperatures that rarely drop below 50°F seem much colder. Thanks to the moderating influence of the Mediterranean Sea, the Côte d’Azur enjoys the warmest winter temperatures.

Regardless of the season, dry days bring brilliant light and deep turquoise skies.

The Wind That Drives Men Mad The legendary Mistral is the result of cold northern air, channeled southward by the void between the Pyrénnées and the Alps. Pressed by mountains on both sides, it barrels down the Rhône Valley at speeds of up to 60 mph, dropping temperatures and often lasting for days on end. According to local stories, the Mistral can drive men mad and some accounts suggest that Van Gogh cut off his ear after several days of severe Mistral weather.

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