AI-generatedLa Rochelle at a glance
- Best time
- Jul – Aug
- Warmest month
- Aug · 24°
- Warmest sea
- Aug · 20.0°
- Sunshine a year
- 2,110 h
- Rain a year
- 760 mm
- Climate
- Temperate
- Time zone
- UTC+1 / UTC+2
- Elevation
- 13 m
Climate in La Rochelle
La Rochelle has a temperate climate with warm summers and cool winters. August is the warmest month with average highs of 24 °C, while January is the coolest at 9 °C. With around 2,110 hours of sunshine a year, La Rochelle is moderately sunny; July is the sunniest month with 8.7 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 12°
- Midday, 13:00: about 17°
- Afternoon, 16:00: about 18°
- Evening, 20:00: about 16°
- Night, 23:00: about 14°
08:2019:21
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 08:01–09:01 · evening 18:40–19:39
- Blue hour
- Morning 07:50–08:01 · evening 19:39–19:51
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 La Rochelle in October?
In October, La Rochelle is mild: daytime highs average 18 °C, and nights cool down to about 12 °C. The sea averages 17.1 °C – bracing, so a wetsuit helps for longer swims. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 12 rainy days and 88 mm in total. All in all, October is not an ideal month for a holiday in La Rochelle.
More details for October
- Daylight
- 11 h 1 min08:20 – 19:21
- UV index
- 3 · moderateclear sky, noon (estimate)All months
- Muggy days
- 0 daysdew point 18 °C or moreAll months
- Wind
- 23 km/haverage daily peakAll months
- Cloud cover
- 61 %on averageAll months
- Hot days
- 0 days30 °C or moreAll months
- Time zone
- UTC+2Europe/Paris
How the score comes together
- Temperatureweight 35 %0 %
- Seaweight 25 %1 %
- Sunshineweight 20 %27 %
- Few rainy daysweight 20 %41 %
Each factor is rated from 0 to 100 % and weighted for the travel style “Sun, sea & sand”.
What to pack in October
- Wetsuit for longer swims
- A jumper for the evenings
- Rain jacket or umbrella
Sea temperature in La Rochelle
Monthly sea surface temperature with the range of cooler and warmer years.
8 in 10 years: 16.0 – 18.2 °C
Swimming season: Aug
- cold
- fresh
- refreshing
- pleasant
- warm
- very warm
The sea temperature in La Rochelle ranges from 9.6 °C in February to 20.0 °C in August. It is warm enough for a comfortable swim (20 °C and more) in August.
From November 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 19.0 and 21.1 °C.
| Month | Average | Cool year | Warm year | Feels |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JanuaryJan | 10.2° | 9.0° | 11.1° | cold |
| FebruaryFeb | 9.6° | 8.6° | 10.4° | cold |
| MarchMar | 10.5° | 9.3° | 11.3° | cold |
| AprilApr | 12.4° | 11.5° | 13.6° | cold |
| MayMay | 15.0° | 14.2° | 16.1° | cold |
| JuneJun | 17.8° | 16.9° | 19.1° | fresh |
| JulyJul | 19.4° | 18.4° | 20.4° | fresh |
| AugustAug | 20.0° | 19.0° | 21.1° | refreshing |
| SeptemberSep | 18.8° | 17.4° | 20.0° | fresh |
| OctoberOct | 17.1° | 16.0° | 18.2° | fresh |
| NovemberNov | 14.5° | 13.7° | 15.8° | cold |
| DecemberDec | 11.7° | 10.5° | 13.1° | cold |
Sunshine hours in La Rochelle
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 4.6 of 11.0 hours of daylight in La Rochelle, 42 % 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 La Rochelle
How strong the sun is at noon, month by month, and how quickly unprotected skin burns.
- Clear-sky UV in October
- 3 · moderateAround midday seek shade; use sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses.
The sun is strongest in June (UV 9).
Minutes until sunburn in October
- Very fair skin
- about 45 min
- Fair skin
- about 60 min
- Light brown skin
- about 85 min
- Olive skin
- about 105 min
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 La Rochelle: 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, La Rochelle has about 12 rainy days with 88 mm of rain in total.
Wind and clouds in La Rochelle
How breezy and how cloudy La Rochelle 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 La Rochelle 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 61 % of the sky over La Rochelle: variable cloud, with about 4.6 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.
Heat and humidity in La Rochelle
How often the day gets hot in La Rochelle (30 °C and more), and in which months heat and humidity come together. Tap a month to select it.
Heat calendar
- pleasant
- some hot or muggy days
- often muggy
- often hot
- hot and muggy
In October, La Rochelle has about 0 hot days, with an average daytime high of 18 °C: pleasant. Heat plays no part this month.
Hot days reach at least 30 °C; a month counts as muggy when the mean dew point reaches 18 °C on at least 15 days. Averages from ERA5 and ERA5-Land, 1996–2025. Muggy nights through the year
Climate through the year
Long-term monthly averages. Tap a month to see its details.
Nights and sleep in La Rochelle
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 12°. A duvet at night and a jumper for the evening.
The coolest nights are in February (4°), the warmest in August (17°). Nights are pleasant for sleeping (15 to 20 °C) from June to September. Nights fall below 8 °C on average from December to March, 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 | 8 | 9° | 4° | 10.2° | 2.7 h | 12 | 79 |
| FebruaryFeb | 15 | 10° | 4° | 9.6° | 4.0 h | 10 | 59 |
| MarchMar | 19 | 13° | 6° | 10.5° | 5.4 h | 11 | 58 |
| AprilApr | 24 | 16° | 9° | 12.4° | 6.6 h | 10 | 57 |
| MayMay | 25 | 19° | 12° | 15.0° | 7.4 h | 11 | 59 |
| JuneJun | 54 | 22° | 15° | 17.8° | 8.3 h | 9 | 50 |
| JulyJul | 72 | 24° | 17° | 19.4° | 8.7 h | 7 | 37 |
| AugustAug | 76 | 24° | 17° | 20.0° | 8.4 h | 7 | 40 |
| SeptemberSep | 53 | 22° | 15° | 18.8° | 7.3 h | 8 | 52 |
| OctoberOct | 14 | 18° | 12° | 17.1° | 4.6 h | 12 | 88 |
| NovemberNov | 8 | 13° | 8° | 14.5° | 3.3 h | 13 | 95 |
| DecemberDec | 7 | 10° | 5° | 11.7° | 2.6 h | 13 | 86 |
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
46.16° N, 1.15° W · 13 m · Europe/Paris
Best time to visit La Rochelle
The best time to visit La Rochelle is from July to August. The sea stays too cool for a classic beach holiday: even in August it only reaches 20.0 °C. For sightseeing, day trips and hiking, conditions are most comfortable from April to September. Rain is most frequent from October to January; the wettest month is November with 95 mm.
La Rochelle through the seasons
How the weather changes over the seasons, with averages for each.
La Rochelle in spring
Mar – May
Poor
- 13–19 °C by day
- Sea 13 °C
- 7 h of sun a day
- 31 rainy days in all
La Rochelle in summer
Jun – Aug
Good
- 22–24 °C by day
- Sea 19 °C
- 9 h of sun a day
- 23 rainy days in all
La Rochelle in autumn
Sep – Nov
Poor
- 13–22 °C by day
- Sea 17 °C
- 5 h of sun a day
- 33 rainy days in all
La Rochelle in winter
Dec – Feb
Poor
- 9–10 °C by day
- Sea 11 °C
- 3 h of sun a day
- 35 rainy days in all
Find your perfect month
Tell us what you like and we rate every month in La Rochelle for you.
Your best months: July – August
Based on the climate averages; tap a month to see its details.
Compare two months in La Rochelle
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 La Rochelle: score 76 against 14. In August, days are 6 °C warmer than in October. The sea is 3 °C warmer in August. August has 5 fewer rainy days. The sun shines 4 hours longer a day in August.
| Month | October | August |
|---|---|---|
| Weather score | 14 | 76better |
| Day high | 18° | 24° |
| Night low | 12° | 17° |
| Sea | 17.1° | 20.0° |
| Sunshine | 4.6 h | 8.4 hbetter |
| Rainy days | 12 | 7better |
| Rainfall | 88 mm | 40 mmbetter |
| Muggy days | 0better | 4 |
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
Apr – Sep
15–28 °C and not too much rain
Rainy months
Oct – Jan
12 or more rainy days
La Rochelle month by month
The typical weather for every month at a glance.
8January9° · Sea 10° · 3 h
In January, La Rochelle is cold: daytime highs average 9 °C, and nights cool down to about 4 °C. The sea averages 10.2 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 3 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 12 rainy days and 79 mm in total. All in all, January is not an ideal month for a holiday in La Rochelle.
La Rochelle in January15February10° · Sea 10° · 4 h
In February, La Rochelle is cool: daytime highs average 10 °C, and nights cool down to about 4 °C. The sea averages 9.6 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. Expect around 4 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 10 rainy days and 59 mm in total. All in all, February is not an ideal month for a holiday in La Rochelle.
La Rochelle in February19March13° · Sea 11° · 5 h
In March, La Rochelle is cool: daytime highs average 13 °C, and nights cool down to about 6 °C. The sea averages 10.5 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 11 rainy days and 58 mm in total. All in all, March is not an ideal month for a holiday in La Rochelle.
La Rochelle in March24April16° · Sea 12° · 7 h
In April, La Rochelle is cool: daytime highs average 16 °C, and nights cool down to about 9 °C. The sea averages 12.4 °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 57 mm in total. All in all, April is not an ideal month for a holiday in La Rochelle.
La Rochelle in April25May19° · Sea 15° · 7 h
In May, La Rochelle is mild: daytime highs average 19 °C, and nights cool down to about 12 °C. The sea averages 15.0 °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 59 mm in total. All in all, May is not an ideal month for a holiday in La Rochelle.
La Rochelle in May54June22° · Sea 18° · 8 h
In June, La Rochelle is warm: daytime highs average 22 °C, and nights cool down to about 15 °C. The sea averages 17.8 °C – bracing, so a wetsuit helps for longer swims. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. Rain falls on about 9 days, adding up to 50 mm. All in all, June is a so-so month for a holiday in La Rochelle.
La Rochelle in June72July24° · Sea 19° · 9 h
In July, La Rochelle is warm: daytime highs average 24 °C, and nights cool down to about 17 °C. The sea averages 19.4 °C – bracing, so a wetsuit helps for longer swims. The sun shines for around 9 hours a day. Rain falls on about 7 days, adding up to 37 mm. All in all, July is a good month for a holiday in La Rochelle.
La Rochelle in July76August24° · Sea 20° · 8 h
In August, La Rochelle is warm: daytime highs average 24 °C, and nights cool down to about 17 °C. The sea averages 20.0 °C – refreshing for a swim. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. Rain falls on about 7 days, adding up to 40 mm. All in all, August is a good month for a holiday in La Rochelle.
La Rochelle in August53September22° · Sea 19° · 7 h
In September, La Rochelle is warm: daytime highs average 22 °C, and nights cool down to about 15 °C. The sea averages 18.8 °C – bracing, so a wetsuit helps for longer swims. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. Rain falls on about 8 days, adding up to 52 mm. All in all, September is a so-so month for a holiday in La Rochelle.
La Rochelle in September14October18° · Sea 17° · 5 h
In October, La Rochelle is mild: daytime highs average 18 °C, and nights cool down to about 12 °C. The sea averages 17.1 °C – bracing, so a wetsuit helps for longer swims. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 12 rainy days and 88 mm in total. All in all, October is not an ideal month for a holiday in La Rochelle.
La Rochelle in October8November13° · Sea 15° · 3 h
In November, La Rochelle is cool: daytime highs average 13 °C, and nights cool down to about 8 °C. The sea averages 14.5 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 3 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 13 rainy days and 95 mm in total. All in all, November is not an ideal month for a holiday in La Rochelle.
La Rochelle in November7December10° · Sea 12° · 3 h
In December, La Rochelle is cool: daytime highs average 10 °C, and nights cool down to about 5 °C. The sea averages 11.7 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 3 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 13 rainy days and 86 mm in total. All in all, December is not an ideal month for a holiday in La Rochelle.
La Rochelle in DecemberLa Rochelle compared
Put La Rochelle side by side with another destination.
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La Rochelle vs. Nantes
In October the holiday weather in La Rochelle and Nantes is about equally good (score 14 vs. 12). During the day Nantes is 1 °C cooler than La Rochelle. Nantes gets one hour less sunshine a day.
| in October | La Rochelle | Nantes |
|---|---|---|
| Holiday score | 14 | 12 |
| Daytime high | 18° | 17° |
| Sea | 17° | – |
| Sunshine | 5 h | 4 h |
| Rainy days | 12 | 12 |
| Best time | Jul – Aug | May – Sep |
Through the year
France in October: the best places
In October, La Rochelle ranks 24 among the 31 nearest destinations in this country.
- Toulouse20°75
- 2Bordeaux20°18°72
- 3Pau19°70
- 4Lourdes18°68
- 5Poitiers18°66
- 6Oradour-sur-Glane17°66
- 7Angers17°65
- 8Tours18°65
- 24La RochelleThis page18°17°14
Planning a trip to La Rochelle
Weather for your travel dates
Pick your arrival and length of stay, and we sum up the weather to expect.
La Rochelle 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.
La Rochelle has its best school-holiday weather during the summer holidays (score 75) and its weakest during the Christmas holidays (score 8).
- 22
Easter holidays
Mar – Apr
Poor
- 15 °C by day
- Sea 12 °C
- 6.2 h of sun a day
- 10 rainy days a month
- 31
May half-term
May – Jun
Poor
- 20 °C by day
- Sea 16 °C
- 7.6 h of sun a day
- 10 rainy days a month
Good for: Sightseeing & walks
- 75
Summer holidays
Jul – Aug
GoodBest holidays
- 24 °C by day
- Sea 20 °C
- 8.5 h of sun a day
- 7 rainy days a month
Good for: Sightseeing & walks
- 14
October half-term
Oct
Poor
- 18 °C by day
- Sea 17 °C
- 4.6 h of sun a day
- 12 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
- 8
Christmas holidays
Dec – Jan
Poor
- 10 °C by day
- Sea 11 °C
- 2.7 h of sun a day
- 13 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.
Getting there
Flying from
- Nonstop flight
- about 1 h 15 min
- Distance
- 590 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 La Rochelle
When is the best time to visit La Rochelle?
The best time to visit La Rochelle 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 La Rochelle?
The sea temperature in La Rochelle ranges from 9.6 °C in February to 20.0 °C in August. It is warm enough for a comfortable swim (20 °C and more) in August.
Can you swim in La Rochelle in October?
Only if you don't mind cold water: in October the sea averages just 17.1 °C. Comfortable swimming is possible in August.
What is the warmest month in La Rochelle?
August is the warmest month, with average highs of 24 °C and nights around 17 °C. January is the coolest month at 9 °C.
When does it rain most in La Rochelle?
Rain is most frequent from October to January; the wettest month is November with 95 mm. The driest month is July with 37 mm.
How many hours of sunshine does La Rochelle get?
La Rochelle gets around 2,110 hours of sunshine a year. The sunniest month is July with 8.7 hours a day; in December there are 2.6 hours a day.
What time zone is La Rochelle in?
La Rochelle uses the time zone Europe/Paris: UTC+1 in January and UTC+2 in July.
How long is the flight from London to La Rochelle?
A nonstop flight from London to La Rochelle takes about 1 h 15 min, for a straight-line distance of about 590 km.
Which school holidays are best for La Rochelle?
La Rochelle has its best school-holiday weather during the summer holidays (score 75) and its weakest during the Christmas holidays (score 8). Holiday ratings (0–100): Easter holidays 22, May half-term 31, Summer holidays 75, October half-term 14, Christmas holidays 8.
Near La Rochelle
Other destinations close by.
Places with a climate like La Rochelle
Destinations whose weather through the year is closest to La Rochelle's – good alternatives.