Corsica has a Mediterranean climate with a great deal of light. Its terrain creates sharp contrasts: in less than an hour’s drive you go from a hot, dry coastline to a mountain climate. To choose your dates, see our page on when to go to Corsica; this page covers the climate itself.
A Mediterranean climate on the coast
Summers are hot and dry, winters mild. On the coast, the average annual temperature ranges from 15.8 °C in Ajaccio to 16.4 °C in Calvi, and the island gets between 2,600 and 2,800 hours of sunshine a year depending on the weather station. Average highs in July and August range from 29 to 32 °C, and are higher in the far south and inland.
Most rain falls between September and December, peaking in November. Summer is almost dry: less than 15 mm in July at most coastal stations.
Météo-France averages, 1991-2020:
| Station | Annual average | Average August high | Average January low | Rain per year | Sunshine per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ajaccio | 15.8 °C | 29.2 °C | 4.7 °C | 635 mm | 2,802 h |
| Bastia | 16.3 °C | 29.8 °C | 5.4 °C | 817 mm | 2,645 h |
| Calvi | 16.4 °C | 30.2 °C | 5.0 °C | 653 mm | 2,746 h |
| Figari | 16.2 °C | 31.7 °C | 4.5 °C | 644 mm | 2,752 h |
| Corte (350 m) | 14.0 °C | 31.5 °C | 0.4 °C | 824 mm | not measured |
Contrary to a common belief, the north is no warmer than the south: annual averages are very close, and it is Figari, in the far south, that has the hottest summer afternoons. Bastia and the east coast, however, get noticeably more rain in autumn.
For most swimmers, the sea is warm enough from late May to mid-October: according to recent averages (2023-2025) from the Open-Meteo Marine dataset, it drops to around 14 to 15 °C in February and March and exceeds 25 °C in August.
Spring is when the maquis flowers, and the best season for nature lovers. Autumn is still very pleasant, with warm colours in the inland forests.
And a mountain climate
The range that separates Haute-Corse from Corse-du-Sud has several peaks above 2,500 m. With altitude, the climate changes quickly and takes on an alpine character from about 800 m. In Corte, at only 350 m, January nights are already close to 0 °C, while August afternoons exceed 31 °C.
Rain and snow are heavier in the mountains, and snow falls on the peaks every winter. In the lowlands it is rare: two to three days a year on average in Ajaccio, Bastia or Calvi. In summer, storms often build over the mountains in mid-afternoon: see our advice on the sea and the mountains.
The winds of Corsica
Wind is as much a part of the Corsican climate as sunshine.
- The libecciu (libeccio) is the prevailing wind. It blows from the south-west, from the west in the south of the island, and from the south-west in the Balagne and on the west coast of Cap Corse. Dry in summer, in winter it brings rain and storms to the western slopes. In Bastia, it comes down from the mountains violent and relatively warm.
- The maestrale (mistral) reaches Corsica from the west. Gusty and usually dry, it blows at around 50 km/h with gusts of 80 to 100 km/h.
- The gregale (gregale), from the north-east, is cold and dry and brings frost in spring. It can bring rain and storms to the eastern plain.
- The levante (levanter), from the east, moderate to strong, is mild and very humid: it brings wet weather from late autumn to spring.
- The sciroccu (sirocco), from the south, comes from the Sahara and is hot and dry in summer. Fairly rare, it blows for a few hours and leaves red sand on cars.
A few records
Météo-France’s climate records keep track of a few extremes:
- 42.1 °C in Calvi on 29 July 1983, and 40.3 °C in Ajaccio on 26 July 1983;
- -8.1 °C in Ajaccio on 11 February 1986, -5.6 °C in Calvi on 30 January 1963, -5 °C in Bastia on 16 February 1956;
- a gust of 197 km/h in Calvi on 18 August 2022, the strongest of the five stations;
- 170 km/h in Bastia on 22 December 2019.
Wildfire risk in summer
Summer drought and wind make the maquis highly flammable. From mid-June to the end of September, lighting fires and smoking are banned in natural areas, and the ban can be extended depending on how dry it is. On days of very severe risk, some massifs are closed to walkers and vehicles.
Before a summer hike, check the day’s risk map on risque-prevention-incendie.fr, and check the year’s order with the prefectures of Haute-Corse and Corse-du-Sud. Closures also apply to people on foot.
