France to bask in sun as summer finally arrives

After weeks of rain and storms that saw lightning strike records broken in May, June rainfall records smashed in a fortnight and towns inundated as rivers burst their banks, France is set to bask in above-average temperatures this week.

The north and west has started the week overcast with a few rain showers, but the skies will clear throughout Monday, forecasters at Météo France have said. But they warned of high winds in the south - and warned that the Landes department is still on orange alert because of the Adour flood.

Temperatures are expected to reach an average of 25C in the northern half of the country, and 28C in the south from Tuesday. In the southeast, highs into the 30s are forecast.

By Thursday, June 21, the first day of the calendar summer, temperatures will reach 30C south of the Seine - and while storms could break in the Alps and Pyrenees regions, conditions across most of the country are expected to remain dry.