Climate of the Haute-Loire

The position inside the Massif Central and the morphology of closed basins confer on the department a climate relatively sheltered and continental but overall fresh because of high altitudes (the two-thirds of the territory are above 800 m).

The disturbances discharge on the peripheral reliefs (Aubrac, Cantal and Sancy for those coming from the ocean; The Cevennes for those coming from the Mediterranean); they are attenuated while arriving on the Haute-Loire, in spite of frequent storms from May to September and a certain reactivation on the solid masses. The pluviometric, weak office pluralities to moderate, go from 60 cm/an in plain and valleys (Brioude, Puy, the Monistrol-on-Loire) to 120 cm in mountain (Mézenc, Margeride).

The average temperatures with 400 meters of altitude are of +2° in January, +19° in July (the valley To combine is the hottest sector).

With 1300 meters: -2° in January, +13° in July (the solid mass of Mézenc is coldest).

Winter snowing up is more regular but generally less abundant than in the Cevennes or in the west of Auvergne (the continentality attenuates at the same time precipitations and the rises in temperature, therefore the variations). Snow is frequent as from November and is due on the ground several months per annum above 1000 Mr. the wind of north (burle), creates an icy environment on the stripped high plateaus, raising snow and accumulating it in snow-drifts. The beautiful season returns in May, covering of greenery all the department.

The vegetation summarizes the climate of the Haute-Loire well: the woodland pine, resisting cold as the dryness, is the tree dominating of the hills and plates. In mountain beeches and fir trees are: they resist snow better and are more demanding out of water. Finally the presence of small vines in the valleys testifies to intense estival heat.

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