Quote:
Originally Posted by Rozenn
Snow isn't a once in a lifetime event in Nice, it would lie maybe once of twice a decade. Falling snow doesn't seem all that rare. Dhdh?
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It depends on your threshold for what constitutes snow and which part of the area you're considering:
In the city itself - very short lived 'showers' of sleet could happen every other year or so (temp 1-3°C); the latest occurrence was on Feb 11, 2013 (temps on that day 2.3°C/4.3°C). Actual snow on the other hand is rather rare. The latest I can remember was around January 2012 when a few actual snowflakes fell for about a minute at night
Significant snow events do happen though, with snow sticking to the ground, but that would be about every 10 years max. (Last time I can remember was around 2003-2004).
I can't imagine what kind of configuration it would take for Nice to yield both sub-0°C temps and precipitation.
Freezing temperatures are already rare in themselves, and more often than not the city goes through an entire winter without any, and when it happens it is usually in anticyclonic conditions after a dry, cold air mass has swept through. See
February 2012: a remarkable month for having recorded 8 freezing nights - yet bone dry (0mm) and sunnier (218 hours
) than a typical July in Paris
As soon as you exit the city centre, it's a very different story though. Conditions change
dramatically as you head north: (1) less maritime influence, (2) decreased population density, (3) higher altitude and (4) loss of mountain sheltering from northerly winds. Even in the northern suburb of Cimiez (at most a 10 min drive from the sea), snow and frost are much more common. North of that, in Gairaut, it is routinely 3-4°C colder at night in winter than in the city centre. My friend who lives there often sent me pics of his snow-covered garden while it was a mild 5-6°C in the old town. Keep driving half an hour north and you'll get to highlands which are
routinely covered in at least some snow in winter
(I've done that every winter in the past couple of years or so as I enjoy the occasional walk in snowy forests).
Sorry, probably more detail than you asked for. I miss my city and its climate badly
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TL;DR sleet is not uncommon in the city, snow is but becomes increasingly common, at a dramatic rate, as you exit the city and head north.
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If that can be of any consolation, I haven't seen such skies since I've arrived here. Though this evening great, with a dew point in the 18-20°C range. Taking a stroll around Antibes Cape, the onshore breeze bringing moist air in felt heavenly. Not too dissimilar from a winter evening in the Carribean, with steady trade winds blowing scent-laden air around. Especially with the sight of towering convective clouds in the distance.
