The climate of Corsica: when to go to Corsica

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The climate of Corsica is a typically Mediterranean climate. However, this climate varies according to altitude: along the coasts it is mild and humid in winter and hot and dry in summer. While in the rugged mountains of the interior, temperatures drop with increasing altitude. The climate becomes alpine in the highest peaks of the island which widely exceed 2,500 meters. Monte Cinto, the highest mountain, in fact reaches 2,706 meters.

THREE TYPES OF CLIMATE THAT VARY ACCORDING TO ALTITUDE

Due to these differences, the climate of Corsica can be divided into three climatic variants according to its height. From sea level to 600 meters above sea level, the climate is typical Mediterranean, with hot and sunny summers and mild but rainy winters, rainfall varies on average between 600 mm and 800 mm per year, this area includes approximately two thirds of the island.

Between 600 and 1,200 meters, that is, in about 25% of the territory, there is a type of mixed climate between the Mediterranean and the Alps with hot and sunny summers, but with cold winters and abundant rainfall ranging between 800 mm and 1,200 mm per year.

On about 10% of the island’s territory, the climate of Corsica is alpine with cold and harsh winters, with abundant rainfall, between 1,000 and 1,500 mm per year, and frequent snowfall during the winter. Snow is generally present on the highest peaks of the island from October to June. Along the coast, the months between May and August are the driest. On average there are about 70 rainy days in a year. While the hours of sunshine are around 2,600 / 2,700.

Summer temperatures reach maximum average values above 28 ° C in July and August. While the average minimum temperatures stop at 17 ° C / 19 ° C. In winter, the maximum average temperatures reach the lowest value, around 13 ° C, in January, while the minimum average temperatures reach 4 ° C / 5 ° C.

The water temperature of the Corsican sea is excellent for swimming between June and October.

WHEN TO GO TO CORSICA

Summer and spring are the best seasons to visit Corsica. In spring, nature is in bloom and the mountains are still covered with snow. Summer is the best time for sea lovers.

THE CLIMATE OF CORSICA: CLIMATIC TABLES

BASTIA (10 meters)
Month	Average low (°C)	Average high (°C)	Precip. (mm)	Rainy days (snowy days)
January	5,1	13,6	67,4	6,1 (0,7)
February	5,9	13,8	56,9	6,1 (0,4)
March	6,7	15,6	59,8	6,5 (0,5)
April	8,8	17,8	76,2	6,9
May	12,4	22,0	49,6	5,4
June	16,0	25,8	41,0	3,4
July	19,0	29,1	12,6	1,7
August	19,4	29,3	20,9	2,4
September	16,5	25,8	81,1	5,0
October	13,3	21,9	127,1	7,1
November	9,2	17,4	113,7	8,4 (0,1)
December	6,3	14,5	93,0	8,1 (0,3)
YEAR	11,5	20,6	799,3	67,0 (2,0)

AJACCIO (5 meters)
Month	Average low (°C)	Average high (°C)	Precip. (mm)	Rainy days (snowy days)
January	4,2	13,7	56,7	6,6 (0,8)
February	4,1	13,9	45,1	6,6 (0,6)
March	5,6	15,5	49,1	6,3 (0,3)
April	7,9	17,9	54,8	7,3
May	11,6	21,7	44,0	5,4
June	14,8	25,3	22,1	2,7
July	17,3	28,4	6,7	1,0
August	17,6	28,7	19,7	2,1
September	15,1	25,9	51,5	5,0
October	12,3	22,5	85,6	7,6
November	8,4	17,9	103,9	9,0 (0,1)
December	5,5	14,7	76,4	8,9 (0,3)
YEAR	10,4	20,5	615,6	68,4 (2,2)