Extreme temperatures are forecast this weekend in France as the latest heatwave of the summer enters full swing.
Temperatures are set to reach 38C in many parts of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine and Occitanie regions today and potentially 40C in some areas, with similar recordings expected throughout the weekend.
Warm Atlantic air moving into France from Spain is the cause of the heightened temperatures.
State forecaster Météo France has placed 11 departments on a tier-three orange warning (the second-highest possible) for canicule, or heatwave, warnings today (August 8).
On Saturday (August 9) this rises to 17, as the hot air primarily responsible continues to settle over the southern half of the country.
Elsewhere, much of the south will see highs of 30C or more, and clear skies will make outside temperatures in the sun feel significantly higher.
Forecasters say the conditions could last until the middle of next week, potentially leading to the highest-possible red-level alerts being raised due to prolonged heatwave conditions.
Heatwave could last until next Saturday in some areas
However, essentially all departments in the southern half of France will face at least a tier-two yellow alert by Saturday, and with Météo France frequently updating their alerts further changes are possible.
The state forecaster only gives warnings up to two calendar days in advance, so it is recommended to check daily for updates.
It is highly likely that further warnings come into force on Sunday and the start of next week as the heatwave persists.
The hot, dry air causing the high temperatures is likely to create a ‘heat-dome’ over the south, which will cause temperatures to rise steadily the longer the phenomenon persists.
Weather patterns at the start of next week means the hot air will shift north and east, bringing heatwave conditions to the northern half of the country after a generally mild weekend.
It means two to four days of heatwave conditions are likely in the north, before Storm Dexter hits northern Europe and in turn pushes away the warm winds, returning the north to typical conditions.
Heatwave conditions in the south-west will remain slightly longer.
Along the Mediterranean however, calm and sunny conditions means the heatwave could last until next weekend.
La vague de #chaleur a débuté cet après-midi, avec déjà 36°C à Toulouse, 35°C à Montauban, Orange et Carpentras 🌡️Cette vague de chaleur gagnera l'ensemble du pays à partir de lundi, avec une #canicule qui pourrait durer jusqu'en fin de semaine prochaine🥵 pic.twitter.com/8T1LpUhvFq
One issue expected across the heatwave period is high overnight temperatures, reaching above 20C in the south and up to 25C or 26C in parts of the south-east.
These ‘tropical nights’ prevent homes and people from cooling down, bringing further discomfort in the daytime and making it harder to stay cool.
Our article on useful tips to keep your property cooler can also help combat the challengers of tropical nights.
