May 2020 Pyrenees Weather?

[SydPowell]

Hello! I am planning to walk part of the Camino Francés in May 2020. I know it is hard to predict the weather on the top of the mountains, but here in Indiana, they are predicting a harsher winter with cooler temps and more snow. Any predictions for the winter for the Pyrenees? I have heard the winter there can persist into May. Any sense of whether there might still be snow this May? Thanks! (Hoping for more Spring-like weather!)

 

[C clearly]

Any such long range predictions wouldn't change any of the plans you should make! You have to be prepared for everything and then enjoy coping with the surprises.

P.S. Welcome to the forum. I apologize for my short and unhelpful, but realistic, response. There is lots of information here, and we actually love answering questions. That question, though, is not answerable!

 

[trecile]

It was cold and misty when I walked over around May 12th. Pilgrims that went over later in the day talked about sunshine and beautiful views. A week later when my friends went over there was some snow.

 

[spursfan]

Snow is unlikely in May - but if the winter has been wet, mud is much more likely to be a problem in some parts

 

[Robo]

It was cold and misty when I walked over around May 12th. Pilgrims that went over later in the day talked about sunshine and beautiful views. A week later when my friends went over there was some snow.

Sounds about right........

Mark 2 dice as follows............

1. Cold
2. Warm with blue shies
3. Raining
4. Windy
5. Snow
6. Low Cloud

Roll both dice, 3 times and record the results each time.
Look at the 6 results you have.......

Prepare for that weather

I have only walked over the Pyrenees twice, both times it was 28th April I think.

In 2015 it was a blue cloudless shy. I just wore a thin shirt. And there was a bit of snow still on the ground.

In 2018, it was low cloud, cold, raining, some snow left, icy cold very strong winds.
I told my wife Pat we would NOT stop on the top sections till out of the wind, due to wind chill and hypothermia risk. (we stopped for a minute in the lee of the rescue hut)

As I'm sure you can appreciate, whilst it can be interesting to look at long term weather forecasts, the weather in the mountains changes by the day and the hour.

I tended to look at the weather sites a couple of days before, to get a bit more of an idea.

But as you will be packing warm gear, rain gear etc for any eventuality you might meet, why worry

 

[Jeff Crawley]

Snow can linger. My friend JoJo did the crossing in early May one year. Snow was abundant. She stepped off the trodden path to take a photo of her companions and sank waist deep. As ever, follow the footsteps!

 

[benny aumala]

See these statistics:
Minimum temperature in May
Rain in May

 

[Dani7]

I will be walking first week of April so my chances are pretty slim to walk the Napoloean route (1400 metres walk up Pyrenees), so...I let go of that "perceived need" and I am preparing myself for the most probable Valcarlos route (more like 700 metres) to Roncesvalles. Both of these routes are quite beautiful from what I have read on the forum and seen in videos.

My mental workouts for this camino are "go with the flow" and stay connected to the moment and pure joy of walking this pilgrimage!

Buen Camino

 

[alhartman]

4/27/05--beautiful clear day with about 2-3 feet of packed snow at Lepoeder Pass.

But long range weather prediction is a near-bogus art. My old notes from either weatherbase.com or wunderground.com show Leon as 13 May rainy days.
Plan on variable weather for a May camino--and the possibility of skipping Lepoeder and taking Valcarlos. Also pack raingear and layers to counter the variability.
IMO a good time to go as sort of a sweet-spot with mostly good weather and somewhat less crowded.

 

[countycork]

Hard prediction but we did that route last week of May 2011. We had hail, rain and couple of days sunshine. However, the scenery and it being our first Camino made up for the unpleasant weather. In fact from St Jean to Estella has been my favourite part of the whole Camino Frances

 

[Lance Chambers]

Any predictions for the winter for the Pyrenees? I have heard the winter there can persist into May. Any sense of whether there might still be snow this May? Thanks! (Hoping for more Spring-like weather!)

Quite lovely it seems.

Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port Weather in May: Temperature, Rainfall, & More

Check accurate weather in May in Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port. Expect Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port May temperature around 20°C (68°F). Read clothing tips & recommended activities.

weather-and-climate.com

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

I will be walking first week of April so my chances are pretty slim to walk the Napoloean route (1400 metres walk up Pyrenees), so...I let go of that "perceived need" and I am preparing myself for the most probable Valcarlos route (more like 700 metres) to Roncesvalles.

More like 1,000 m.

 

[Bruce777]

I will be walking first week of April so my chances are pretty slim to walk the Napoloean route (1400 metres walk up Pyrenees), so...I let go of that "perceived need" and I am preparing myself for the most probable Valcarlos route (more like 700 metres) to Roncesvalles. Both of these routes are quite beautiful from what I have read on the forum and seen in videos.

My mental workouts for this camino are "go with the flow" and stay connected to the moment and pure joy of walking this pilgrimage!

Buen Camino

That's the right way. perfect attitude..

 

[RJM]

It is literally impossible to know what the weather over the Pyrenees section of the Frances will be like in May of 2020. My best advice is to look on one of the internet weather sites that has past year's weather for that region and see what it was like for the past 3-4 years and come up with an average. Either way, do not give it much thought as it will be what it will be, and that section of the Frances you will walk only for a few hours at the most.

 

[Lance Chambers]

It is literally impossible to know what the weather over the Pyrenees section of the Frances will be like in May of 2020. My best advice is to look on one of the internet weather sites that has past year's weather for that region and see what it was like for the past 3-4 years and come up with an average. Either way, do not give it much thought as it will be what it will be, and that section of the Frances you will walk only for a few hours at the most.

Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port Weather in May: Temperature, Rainfall, & More

Check accurate weather in May in Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port. Expect Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port May temperature around 20°C (68°F). Read clothing tips & recommended activities.

weather-and-climate.com

 

[naplesdon]

Just read a weather blog on the France 3 Aquitaine site predicting the coldest winter in 30 years due to the polar vortex. It's surname is La Bete de l'Est.