AI-generatedDunkirk at a glance
- Best time
- Jul – Aug
- Warmest month
- Aug · 22°
- Warmest sea
- Aug · 18.5°
- Sunshine a year
- 1,800 h
- Rain a year
- 688 mm
- Climate
- Maritime
- Time zone
- UTC+1 / UTC+2
- Elevation
- 8 m
Climate in Dunkirk
Dunkirk has a maritime climate with moderate summers and cool, often grey winters. August is the warmest month with average highs of 22 °C, while January is the coolest at 7 °C. With around 1,800 hours of sunshine a year, Dunkirk is moderately sunny; June is the sunniest month with 7.6 hours a day.
Holiday weather through the year
Weather in October
Holiday weather in October
Poor
Best time to visit: July – August
Keep in mindFrequent rain
A typical day in October
- Morning, 08:00: about 10°
- Midday, 13:00: about 15°
- Afternoon, 16:00: about 15°
- Evening, 20:00: about 13°
- Night, 23:00: about 12°
08:1219:00
Cool evenings: pack a jumper or a jacket.
Estimated from the average high and low: coolest around sunrise, warmest in mid-afternoon.
Light for photos in October
- Golden hour
- Morning 07:51–08:57 · evening 18:15–19:21
- Blue hour
- Morning 07:39–07:51 · evening 19:21–19:34
Golden hour: the sun between 4° below and 6° above the horizon; blue hour: 6° to 4° below it. Times for the 15th of the month; mountains and clouds shift the light.
What is the weather like in Dunkirk in October?
In October, Dunkirk is cool: daytime highs average 15 °C, and nights cool down to about 10 °C. The sea averages 15.6 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 4 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 13 rainy days and 70 mm in total. All in all, October is not an ideal month for a holiday in Dunkirk.
More details for October
- Daylight
- 10 h 49 min08:12 – 19:00
- UV index
- 2 · lowclear sky, noon (estimate)All months
- Muggy days
- 0 daysdew point 18 °C or moreAll months
- Wind
- 23 km/haverage daily peakAll months
- Cloud cover
- 70 %on averageAll months
- Hot days
- 0 days30 °C or more
- Snow days
- 0 days1 cm or more of fresh snow
- Time zone
- UTC+2Europe/Paris
How the score comes together
- Temperatureweight 35 %0 %
- Seaweight 25 %0 %
- Sunshineweight 20 %15 %
- Few rainy daysweight 20 %37 %
Each factor is rated from 0 to 100 % and weighted for the travel style “Sun, sea & sand”.
What to pack in October
- A jumper for the evenings
- Rain jacket or umbrella
Sea temperature in Dunkirk
Monthly sea surface temperature with the range of cooler and warmer years.
8 in 10 years: 14.9 – 16.3 °C
Swimming season: Never above 20 °C
- cold
- fresh
- refreshing
- pleasant
- warm
- very warm
The sea temperature in Dunkirk ranges from 7.2 °C in February to 18.5 °C in August. Even at its warmest the sea stays below 20 °C, so swimming is bracing at best.
From October to January the sea is even warmer than the afternoon air. The sea temperature varies from year to year: in August, eight out of ten years were between 17.8 and 19.5 °C.
| Month | Average | Cool year | Warm year | Feels |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JanuaryJan | 8.2° | 7.0° | 9.5° | cold |
| FebruaryFeb | 7.2° | 5.6° | 8.7° | cold |
| MarchMar | 7.5° | 5.7° | 8.8° | cold |
| AprilApr | 9.3° | 8.3° | 10.5° | cold |
| MayMay | 11.9° | 10.9° | 12.8° | cold |
| JuneJun | 14.8° | 13.9° | 15.9° | cold |
| JulyJul | 17.1° | 16.0° | 18.5° | fresh |
| AugustAug | 18.5° | 17.8° | 19.5° | fresh |
| SeptemberSep | 17.8° | 16.9° | 18.7° | fresh |
| OctoberOct | 15.6° | 14.9° | 16.3° | cold |
| NovemberNov | 12.8° | 12.0° | 13.8° | cold |
| DecemberDec | 10.1° | 9.0° | 11.5° | cold |
Sunshine hours in Dunkirk
Average hours of bright sunshine per day, next to the length of the day. Tap a month to select it.
In October, the sun shines for about 3.9 of 10.8 hours of daylight in Dunkirk, 36 % of the day.
Sunshine hours: estimated from radiation data (ERA5, 1996–2025) and calibrated against measured station values; no weather station is close enough here. Daylight is the time from sunrise to sunset on the 15th of the month.
UV index in Dunkirk
How strong the sun is at noon, month by month, and how quickly unprotected skin burns.
- Clear-sky UV in October
- 2 · lowLittle protection needed; sunglasses on bright days.
The sun is strongest in June (UV 8).
Minutes until sunburn in October
- Very fair skin
- about 65 min
- Fair skin
- about 85 min
- Light brown skin
- about 115 min
- Olive skin
- over 2 h
Rough guide for unprotected skin at noon under a clear sky; clouds lengthen it, water, sand and snow shorten it. Sunscreen extends the time only partly.
Monthly values: clear-sky noon estimate from the sun's angle, ozone and altitude. UV today: Open-Meteo forecast.
Rain in Dunkirk: rainy days and rainfall
A rainy day is a day with at least 1 mm of rain or snow; the amount is what falls in the whole month. Tap a month to select it.
In October, Dunkirk has about 13 rainy days with 70 mm of rain in total.
Wind and clouds in Dunkirk
How breezy and how cloudy Dunkirk is through the year. Tap a month to select it on the whole page.
Wind
Typical daily peak of the wind in km/h: what the afternoon breeze usually reaches, not the gusts.
In October, the wind in Dunkirk typically peaks at 23 km/h during the day: Beaufort 4, moderate breeze.
Breezy months for windsurfing and kiting
From Beaufort 4 (20 km/h) the daily breeze is usually enough for windsurfing and often for kiting, and here it gets there all year.
Clouds
Average share of the sky covered by cloud, day and night.
In October, cloud covers on average 70 % of the sky over Dunkirk: mostly cloudy, with about 3.9 hours of sunshine a day.
Wind: mean daily maximum of the hourly wind 10 m above ground (ERA5, 1996–2025). Gusts are stronger, and the model grid of about 28 km smooths out local effects such as capes and valley winds. Clouds: mean total cloud cover of all layers over day and night (ERA5, 1996–2025). Thin high cloud counts as cover even when the sun still shines through.
Climate through the year
Long-term monthly averages. Tap a month to see its details.
Nights and sleep in Dunkirk
How warm the nights get in each month, from the mean night-time low. Tap a month for details.
- Cold 0–8°
- Cool 8–15°
- Pleasant 15–20°
CoolOctober: nights around 10°. A duvet at night and a jumper for the evening.
The coolest nights are in January (3°), the warmest in August (15°). Nights are pleasant for sleeping (15 to 20 °C) from July to August. Nights fall below 8 °C on average from November to April, so the room should be heated.
Temperatures through the year
Average daytime high, night-time low and sea temperature per month.
| Month | Score | Day | Night | Sea | Sun | Rain days | Rain mm |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JanuaryJan | 9 | 7° | 3° | 8.2° | 2.2 h | 12 | 58 |
| FebruaryFeb | 10 | 8° | 3° | 7.2° | 3.0 h | 11 | 50 |
| MarchMar | 15 | 10° | 4° | 7.5° | 4.4 h | 11 | 48 |
| AprilApr | 23 | 14° | 6° | 9.3° | 6.5 h | 10 | 43 |
| MayMay | 24 | 17° | 10° | 11.9° | 7.1 h | 11 | 55 |
| JuneJun | 31 | 20° | 13° | 14.8° | 7.6 h | 10 | 54 |
| JulyJul | 41 | 22° | 15° | 17.1° | 7.6 h | 11 | 53 |
| AugustAug | 45 | 22° | 15° | 18.5° | 7.0 h | 11 | 65 |
| SeptemberSep | 24 | 19° | 13° | 17.8° | 5.5 h | 10 | 55 |
| OctoberOct | 10 | 15° | 10° | 15.6° | 3.9 h | 13 | 70 |
| NovemberNov | 7 | 11° | 6° | 12.8° | 2.3 h | 13 | 69 |
| DecemberDec | 7 | 8° | 4° | 10.1° | 1.8 h | 13 | 67 |
Climate averages 1996–2025, not a forecast. Data: Copernicus ERA5 / ERA5-Land via Open-Meteo.com (CC BY 4.0), NOAA OISST, WMO 1991–2020 (NOAA NCEI), GeoNames (CC BY 4.0). Sources & licences
51.03° N, 2.38° E · 8 m · Europe/Paris
Best time to visit Dunkirk
The best time to visit Dunkirk is from July to August. The sea stays too cool for a classic beach holiday: even in August it only reaches 18.5 °C. For sightseeing, day trips and hiking, conditions are most comfortable from May to September. Rain is most frequent from October to December; the wettest month is October with 70 mm.
Dunkirk through the seasons
How the weather changes over the seasons, with averages for each.
Dunkirk in spring
Mar – May
Poor
- 10–17 °C by day
- Sea 10 °C
- 6 h of sun a day
- 32 rainy days in all
Dunkirk in summer
Jun – Aug
Poor
- 20–22 °C by day
- Sea 17 °C
- 7 h of sun a day
- 31 rainy days in all
Dunkirk in autumn
Sep – Nov
Poor
- 11–19 °C by day
- Sea 15 °C
- 4 h of sun a day
- 36 rainy days in all
Dunkirk in winter
Dec – Feb
Poor
- 7–8 °C by day
- Sea 9 °C
- 2 h of sun a day
- 36 rainy days in all
Find your perfect month
Tell us what you like and we rate every month in Dunkirk for you.
Your best months: July – August
Based on the climate averages; tap a month to see its details.
Compare two months in Dunkirk
Pick two months to see how the weather differs. A tick marks the clearly better value; for temperatures it depends on your plans.
August has the better holiday weather in Dunkirk: score 45 against 10. In August, days are 7 °C warmer than in October. The sea is 3 °C warmer in August. August has 2 fewer rainy days. The sun shines 3 hours longer a day in August.
| Month | October | August |
|---|---|---|
| Weather score | 10 | 45better |
| Day high | 15° | 22° |
| Night low | 10° | 15° |
| Sea | 15.6° | 18.5° |
| Sunshine | 3.9 h | 7.0 hbetter |
| Rainy days | 13 | 11better |
| Rainfall | 70 mm | 65 mm |
| Muggy days | 0better | 1 |
Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.
Which month for what?
Beach & swimming
No month
Sea from 21 °C, warm and mostly dry
Sightseeing & hiking
May – Sep
15–28 °C and not too much rain
Rainy months
Oct – Dec
12 or more rainy days
Dunkirk month by month
The typical weather for every month at a glance.
9January7° · Sea 8° · 2 h
In January, Dunkirk is cold: daytime highs average 7 °C, and nights cool down to about 3 °C. The sea averages 8.2 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 2 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 12 rainy days and 58 mm in total. All in all, January is not an ideal month for a holiday in Dunkirk.
Dunkirk in January10February8° · Sea 7° · 3 h
In February, Dunkirk is cold: daytime highs average 8 °C, and nights cool down to about 3 °C. The sea averages 7.2 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 3 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 11 rainy days and 50 mm in total. All in all, February is not an ideal month for a holiday in Dunkirk.
Dunkirk in February15March10° · Sea 8° · 4 h
In March, Dunkirk is cool: daytime highs average 10 °C, and nights cool down to about 4 °C. The sea averages 7.5 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. Expect around 4 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 11 rainy days and 48 mm in total. All in all, March is not an ideal month for a holiday in Dunkirk.
Dunkirk in March23April14° · Sea 9° · 7 h
In April, Dunkirk is cool: daytime highs average 14 °C, and nights cool down to about 6 °C. The sea averages 9.3 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 10 rainy days and 43 mm in total. All in all, April is not an ideal month for a holiday in Dunkirk.
Dunkirk in April24May17° · Sea 12° · 7 h
In May, Dunkirk is mild: daytime highs average 17 °C, and nights cool down to about 10 °C. The sea averages 11.9 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 11 rainy days and 55 mm in total. All in all, May is not an ideal month for a holiday in Dunkirk.
Dunkirk in May31June20° · Sea 15° · 8 h
In June, Dunkirk is mild: daytime highs average 20 °C, and nights cool down to about 13 °C. The sea averages 14.8 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 10 rainy days and 54 mm in total. All in all, June is not an ideal month for a holiday in Dunkirk.
Dunkirk in June41July22° · Sea 17° · 8 h
In July, Dunkirk is warm: daytime highs average 22 °C, and nights cool down to about 15 °C. The sea averages 17.1 °C – bracing, so a wetsuit helps for longer swims. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 11 rainy days and 53 mm in total. All in all, July is a so-so month for a holiday in Dunkirk.
Dunkirk in July45August22° · Sea 19° · 7 h
In August, Dunkirk is warm: daytime highs average 22 °C, and nights cool down to about 15 °C. The sea averages 18.5 °C – bracing, so a wetsuit helps for longer swims. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 11 rainy days and 65 mm in total. All in all, August is a so-so month for a holiday in Dunkirk.
Dunkirk in August24September19° · Sea 18° · 6 h
In September, Dunkirk is mild: daytime highs average 19 °C, and nights cool down to about 13 °C. The sea averages 17.8 °C – bracing, so a wetsuit helps for longer swims. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 10 rainy days and 55 mm in total. All in all, September is not an ideal month for a holiday in Dunkirk.
Dunkirk in September10October15° · Sea 16° · 4 h
In October, Dunkirk is cool: daytime highs average 15 °C, and nights cool down to about 10 °C. The sea averages 15.6 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 4 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 13 rainy days and 70 mm in total. All in all, October is not an ideal month for a holiday in Dunkirk.
Dunkirk in October7November11° · Sea 13° · 2 h
In November, Dunkirk is cool: daytime highs average 11 °C, and nights cool down to about 6 °C. The sea averages 12.8 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 2 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 13 rainy days and 69 mm in total. All in all, November is not an ideal month for a holiday in Dunkirk.
Dunkirk in November7December8° · Sea 10° · 2 h
In December, Dunkirk is cold: daytime highs average 8 °C, and nights cool down to about 4 °C. The sea averages 10.1 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 2 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 13 rainy days and 67 mm in total. All in all, December is not an ideal month for a holiday in Dunkirk.
Dunkirk in DecemberDunkirk compared
Put Dunkirk side by side with another destination.
No destination found
Dunkirk vs. Calais
In October the holiday weather in Dunkirk and Calais is about equally good (score 10 vs. 9). During the day it is about as warm in Calais as in Dunkirk. The sea is about equally warm.
| in October | Dunkirk | Calais |
|---|---|---|
| Holiday score | 10 | 9 |
| Daytime high | 15° | 15° |
| Sea | 16° | 16° |
| Sunshine | 4 h | 4 h |
| Rainy days | 13 | 14 |
| Best time | Jul – Aug | Jul – Aug |
Through the year
France in October: the best places
In October, Dunkirk ranks 25 among the 31 nearest destinations in this country.
- Fontainebleau17°65
- 2Tours18°65
- 3Angers17°65
- 4Orléans17°62
- 5Auxerre17°61
- 6Troyes17°60
- 7Le Mans17°60
- 8Paris17°59
- 25DunkirkThis page15°16°10
Planning a trip to Dunkirk
Weather for your travel dates
Pick your arrival and length of stay, and we sum up the weather to expect.
Dunkirk in the school holidays
How the weather suits the usual holiday periods. Dates vary by school and region, so each holiday uses the months it usually falls in.
Dunkirk has its best school-holiday weather during the summer holidays (score 44) and its weakest during the Christmas holidays (score 8).
- 21
Easter holidays
Mar – Apr
Poor
- 13 °C by day
- Sea 9 °C
- 5.9 h of sun a day
- 10 rainy days a month
- 25
May half-term
May – Jun
Poor
- 17 °C by day
- Sea 12 °C
- 7.2 h of sun a day
- 11 rainy days a month
Good for: Sightseeing & walks
- 44
Summer holidays
Jul – Aug
FairBest holidays
- 22 °C by day
- Sea 18 °C
- 7.2 h of sun a day
- 11 rainy days a month
Good for: Sightseeing & walks
- 10
October half-term
Oct
Poor
- 15 °C by day
- Sea 16 °C
- 3.9 h of sun a day
- 13 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
- 8
Christmas holidays
Dec – Jan
Poor
- 7 °C by day
- Sea 9 °C
- 2.0 h of sun a day
- 12 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.
Getting there
Flying from
- Nonstop flight
- Short trip – train or car is often quicker
- Distance
- 200 km
- Time zone
- UTC+2
- Jet lag
- Hardly any (under 3 h)
Estimated from the straight-line distance: 30 minutes for take-off and landing plus 830 km/h cruising speed.
Frequently asked questions about Dunkirk
When is the best time to visit Dunkirk?
The best time to visit Dunkirk is from July to August. That is when the holiday weather score, which combines temperature, sea, sunshine and rain, is highest.
How warm is the sea in Dunkirk?
The sea temperature in Dunkirk ranges from 7.2 °C in February to 18.5 °C in August. Even at its warmest the sea stays below 20 °C, so swimming is bracing at best.
Can you swim in Dunkirk in October?
Only if you don't mind cold water: in October the sea averages just 15.6 °C. Comfortable swimming temperatures are not reached at any time of year.
What is the warmest month in Dunkirk?
August is the warmest month, with average highs of 22 °C and nights around 15 °C. January is the coolest month at 7 °C.
When does it rain most in Dunkirk?
Rain is most frequent from October to December; the wettest month is October with 70 mm. The driest month is April with 43 mm.
How many hours of sunshine does Dunkirk get?
Dunkirk gets around 1,800 hours of sunshine a year. The sunniest month is June with 7.6 hours a day; in December there are 1.8 hours a day.
What time zone is Dunkirk in?
Dunkirk uses the time zone Europe/Paris: UTC+1 in January and UTC+2 in July.
Which school holidays are best for Dunkirk?
Dunkirk has its best school-holiday weather during the summer holidays (score 44) and its weakest during the Christmas holidays (score 8). Holiday ratings (0–100): Easter holidays 21, May half-term 25, Summer holidays 44, October half-term 10, Christmas holidays 8.
Near Dunkirk
Other destinations close by.
Places with a climate like Dunkirk
Destinations whose weather through the year is closest to Dunkirk's – good alternatives.