Climate
As befits one of the largest countries in Europe, covering 543,965 square km (210,025 square miles) France has a varied climate.
Sitting on Europe's western edge, the Atlantic influence persists on the western side of the country and brings mild wet winters, early springs and long hot summers.
The chart below illustrates the average range of temperatures at Pau over the last thirty years.
| Lowest temperature : | -15 degrees centrigrade |
| Coldest day : | 13/02/1956 |
| Highest temperature : | 39.9 degrees centrigrade |
| Hottest day : | 01/08/1947 |
| Most rain in 24 hours : | 84 mm |
| Wettest day : | 11/05/1993 |
Conversely, the south east of France is characterised by greater extremes with cold winters giving way to baking summers and violent winds and storms. All in all, our corner of France has the most benign range of temperatures and avoids the extremes.
