The Puy-de-Dôme department is one of the French departments in which the climate varies the most. The department is located at the edge of both oceanic and continental climates; however the climate varies because of relief especially. In Puy-de-Dôme, it can be raining in the Livradois mountains while it is not in Clermont-Ferrand. This is explained by Fœhn wind.

French version

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Fœhn wind occurs in the lee of a mountain range. It is responsible for mountainous region climate. This wind is a consequence of the movements of air masses when they meet mountains. Air masses rise up on the mountain slopes thanks to Fœhn wind. Thus, clouds and precipitations form.

On the other side of mountains, air masses go down, following the slopes. They get warmer in this way, and lead to stable climate since warm atmospheric layers form.

Fœhn wind is very remarkable from Clermont-Ferrand when watching Puy-de-Dôme. We often see clouds tearing apart after they crossed the Chaîne-des-Puys. So it rarely rains in Clermont-Ferrand. Unlike most of people generally believe, it rains less in the Auvergne capital city than in other cities over 100,000 inhabitants in France. For instance, it rains more in Nice than in Clermont-Ferrand.

Clermont-Ferrand is the 29^th – out of 30 – rainiest French city. However, storms more frequently happen than in other cities over 100,000 inhabitants.

French version

Sources :

• Le Climat d’Olloix
• Le climat du Puy de Dôme
• L’explication du Conseil général