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Grisaille: a record start to the year in Paris and the rest of France!

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The Editor

© Hugo Dominguez / Le Bonbon

Tired of the lack of sunshine? Recent weather data confirms a persistent trend of gray skies and heavy rainfall in Paris and across France.

We know that 2024 has frankly not been generous with sunshine in Paris. While last year ranks among the 5 hottest ever recorded in France, bad weather and gloom were definitely present, especially during February and November. And the bad news is: the year 2025 seems to be starting off in the same way.


A rare sun in Paris

According to the data from the Meteorological Station of Paris, located in the heart of Montsouris Park in the 14th arrondissement, the capital has only seen 124 hours of sunshine since January 1, 2024, which is a 13% decrease compared to the averages from 1991-2020. As for rainfall, the month of January also set records.u records with a total rainfall of 111.8 mm, which is an increase of 138% compared to the seasonal averages.

Why is this persistent grayness lingering? Between record rainfall and persistent anticyclones, humidity remains trapped in the lower layers of the atmosphere, forming a blanket of low clouds and fog. The sun, still too weak at this time of year, struggles to dispel this stubborn gloom. And it's not over yet: the presence of a cold drop at altitude keeps the weather humid and overcast.


The same observation everywhere in France

Across the rest of France, it’s not any better, as 59 out of 60 major French cities with observation stations report sunshine below the seasonal averages over the last twelve months according to the j...

According to the Le Monde newspaper, the capital of Corsica, Ajaccio, is the only city to enjoy a slight increase (+2.1%). On average, French cities have experienced a decrease in sunshine of 8.5% over the last year, which means about 159 hours less of sunshine. The center-west of the country is the most affected region, with declines reaching −17.4% in Chartres, −16.2% in Le Mans and Blois, and −15.2% in Tours.