Editing Cantal (section)

=== Climate ===
The climate of the department varies considerably.{{sfnp|''EB''|1878}} Prevailing winds and mountain ranges divide Cantal into four climatic zones:
* The west is subject to oceanic winds which bring rains.
* The Cantal and the Cézallier mountains create a rain shadow: it rains and snows quite often.
* The Planèze of Saint-Flour and the region of Massiac receive less precipitation, owing to winds coming from the north and south.
* The plateaus of the Margeride and the Aubrac have harsh winters and pleasant summers.

[[File:PuyGriou.JPG|thumb|left|[[Puy Griou]] in the winter season]]
Generally, the weather is mild and dry in the [[alluvial plain]] between [[Murat, Cantal|Murat]] and Saint-Flour and around Aurillac, while summer storms and winters can be long and severe in the northern and central areas.{{sfnp|''EB''|1878}} The west—nearer precipitation coming in from the [[Atlantic Ocean|Atlantic]]—is well watered.{{citation needed|date=June 2016}} There is abundant snowfall which can remain up to six months on the mountaintops. Winter temperatures can fall to below {{convert|-15|°C|0|abbr=on}}, whereas in summer {{convert|25|°C|0|abbr=on}} is often reached.  The southern part of the department, on its borders with [[Aveyron]] and [[Lot (department)|Lot]], is the hottest region. Aurillac averaged 2080 hours of sunlight per year over the period from 1991 to 2000. Fog is rare and disappears quickly. Wind is usually not very strong, but the lightning flashes in this department are among the most spectacular in France.

Televised French weather forecasts often note Aurillac as the coldest city in France in the mornings. This status should be understood in light of their derivation from temperature readings by {{lang|fr|[[Météo-France]]}}. Of the 30 cities included on its maps, Aurillac is by far the one with the highest altitude, at {{convert|640|m|sp=us|abbr=on|0}} above sea level.