Normandy weather is mild and changeable, with rain in every month and wind off the Channel. Summer highs sit in the low 20s, and winters are cool and wet. Here is what each month does to a day on a Normandy tour, from Météo-France's averages for Caen.
A D-Day day is spent mostly outdoors. You stand on open sand, walk a cratered clifftop at Pointe du Hoc, and cross the lawns of the cemetery. The minivan or coach between stops is your only shelter.
So the wind and the rain matter more than the heat. The coast faces north, straight onto the Channel. Even in July, a jacket earns its place in your bag.
The figures below are Météo-France's 1991-2020 averages for Caen-Carpiquet, the nearest official station to the beaches. They are averages, not a forecast.
At Caen you can expect 8 °C by day and 3 °C at night, 63 mm of rain on about 12 days, and 70 hours of sun. The Overlord Museum, the Juno Beach Centre and the Arromanches museum all close. The beaches and the cemetery stay open.
At Caen you can expect 9 °C by day and 3 °C at night, 53 mm of rain on about 11 days, and 90 hours of sun. The Overlord Museum reopens on 13 February. Wind still blows hard on about eight days. Wrap up on the clifftops.
At Caen you can expect 12 °C by day and 4 °C at night, 50 mm of rain on about 10 days, and 130 hours of sun. Sunshine jumps by about 40 hours on February. The museums are back to spring hours. Pack a waterproof.
At Caen you can expect 14 °C by day and 6 °C at night, 53 mm of rain on about 10 days, and 179 hours of sun. The Juno Beach Centre starts its bunker tours. Wind drops. Mild days for a full day on the beaches.
At Caen you can expect 17 °C by day and 8 °C at night, 59 mm of rain on about 10 days, and 203 hours of sun. Over 200 hours of sun. The abbey and the Utah Beach Museum move to their long summer hours.
At Caen you can expect 20 °C by day and 11 °C at night, 58 mm of rain on about 9 days, and 213 hours of sun. The anniversary week crowds the coast. Long, mild days. Book your tour and your room early.
At Caen you can expect 23 °C by day and 13 °C at night, 51 mm of rain on about 8 days, and 218 hours of sun. The sunniest month, and the driest by number of rainy days. Still, bring a jacket for the wind on the bluffs.
At Caen you can expect 23 °C by day and 13 °C at night, 60 mm of rain on about 8 days, and 205 hours of sun. The warmest month by a whisker. Museums open until 7 pm. Book ahead for the smaller groups.
At Caen you can expect 20 °C by day and 11 °C at night, 54 mm of rain on about 9 days, and 171 hours of sun. Still mild, and quieter. The abbey ticket is €16 until the 30th. A good month for the beaches.
At Caen you can expect 16 °C by day and 9 °C at night, 79 mm of rain on about 12 days, and 117 hours of sun. The wet season starts. The abbey ticket drops to €13. Plan a museum for the rainy hours.
At Caen you can expect 12 °C by day and 6 °C at night, 79 mm of rain on about 13 days, and 82 hours of sun. Rain on about 13 days. The coast is windy. Short days give you less time at the sites.
At Caen you can expect 9 °C by day and 3 °C at night, 81 mm of rain on about 14 days, and 67 hours of sun. The wettest, darkest month. The cemetery and the abbey close on 25 December. Dress for wind and rain.
Compare the D-Day and Mont-Saint-Michel days, with the time each spends outdoors.
Each season suits a different trip. Pick the one that fits what you want to see.
For the most sun and mild days, come from May to September. For the quietest sites, come in the shoulder months and pack for rain.
Dress in layers you can add and take off between stops. Here is what to pack in any season:
In summer, add a hat and sun cream. The beaches have little shade.
If rain sets in, put the museums first. The Overlord Museum sits 500 m from the cemetery, and the Utah Beach Museum stands on the beach. Both let you wait out a shower with something to see.
Several listings say their D-Day days run rain or shine. The e-bike ride and some private days may cancel for bad weather, and then you get another date or a refund.
Every temperature, rainfall, rainy-day count, sunshine and gust figure is Météo-France's 1991-2020 normal for Caen-Carpiquet (station 14137001), checked 28 September 2026. Museum dates come from each museum's own page.
Four hours from Place du Québec with a qualified guide-driver: Omaha Beach, an hour at the American war cemetery and an hour at the Rangers' cliff. Children from four.
From $136 per person (minimum 2)
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A private half day on electric bikes from Parking d'Ornano in Bayeux to Omaha Beach and the American war cemetery. Helmet, water and snacks in the fare.
From $219 per person (minimum 2)
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A five-hour afternoon from selected Bayeux hotels: Omaha Beach, the Rangers' cliff and the American war cemetery. Eight seats; refunds up to six days ahead.
From $107 per person
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