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The climate is of Mediterranean type characterised by the mildness of all the seasons. However, there are some marked differences between the western end and the eastern end of the Minervois.
The area close to Carcassonne represents a climatic frontier between the oceanic climate to the west and the Mediterranean climate on the eastern side. The western extremities of the Minervois are influenced by the oceanic climate whereas the Mediterranean has a stronger influence over the majority of the Minervois.
The following notes are based on recordings for the central area of the Minervois around Olonzac. Year on year variations can be important. For example, the maximum temperature recorded in the past twenty years was 42.5°C in July 1982 and the minimum was -12.5°C in January, 1985.
Rain in the summer is very rare and tends to result from occasional storm activity which is very localised. When it does rain, it arrives in very large doses in a very short period of time. The storms are so localised that you can sometimes see them passing by and the rain can fall on the next village without falling on you. In any case, they are usually over in an hour or so.
The prevailing winds in this area are the "Tramontane" and the "Marin". The Tramontane, also known as the Cers, comes from the north-west and brings a welcome cool, dry breeze in the summer. The Marin comes from the south-east and is warmer and more humid, and rather more rare. (We are over a 100 miles away from the very cold Mistral coming down the Rhone valley.)
In winter, snow is expected roughly once every six or seven years. Our last fall was of about 15cms some seven years' ago and it lasted for about three or four days. If you are seeking the snow, skiing is available from December to April in the nearby Pyrenees, about 2 hours' drive away.
A whole day without sunshine is very rare even in winter. Visitors are even able to lunch outside in the sunshine in the sheltered garden of The Cottage on many days over the Christmas and New Year's holiday period.
We provide below an indication of the average monthly temperatures and rainfalls over the past 20 years as recorded for the central Minervois, close to Olonzac.
| | Average Maximum Temperature °C | Average Temperature °C | Average Minimum Temperature °C | Average Rainfall mm | Days with rainfall >1mm |
| January | 10.8 | 6.8 |
2.8 | 61 | 6 |
| February | 12.1 | 7.8 |
3.6 | 57 | 7 |
| March | 15.3 | 10.5 |
5.7 | 47 | 6 |
| April | 17.6 | 12.6 |
7.5 | 60 | 7 |
| May | 22.1 | 16.5 |
11 | 51 | 6 |
| June | 26.6 | 20.4 |
14.2 | 37 | 4 |
| July | 30.5 | 23.7 |
16.8 | 21 | 3 |
| August | 29.8 | 23.1 |
16.4 | 45 | 4 |
| September | 26.2 | 19.8 |
13.7 | 41 | 4 |
| October | 20.3 | 15.6 |
10.8 | 92 | 6 |
| November | 14.7 | 10.7 |
6.8 | 62 | 6 |
| December | 11.8 | 7.9 |
4 | 59 | 7 |
And especially for those of you who are more comfortable with and accustomed to Fahrenheit temperatures and rain in inches:
| | Average Maximum Temperature °F | Average Temperature °F | Average Minimum Temperature °F | Average Rainfall ins | Days with rainfall >0.04" |
| January | 51 | 44 |
37 | 2.4 | 6 |
| February | 54 | 46 |
38 | 2.2 | 7 |
| March | 60 | 51 |
42 | 1.9 | 6 |
| April | 64 | 55 |
46 | 2.4 | 7 |
| May | 72 | 62 |
52 | 2.0 | 6 |
| June | 80 | 69 |
58 | 1.5 | 4 |
| July | 87 | 75 |
62 | 0.8 | 3 |
| August | 86 | 74 |
62 | 1.8 | 4 |
| September | 79 | 68 |
57 | 1.6 | 4 |
| October | 69 | 60 |
51 | 3.6 | 6 |
| November | 58 | 51 |
44 | 2.4 | 6 |
| December | 53 | 46 |
39 | 2.3 | 7 |
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