French weather forecast June 23 - 27: Storms and 40C heat before cool down
Major weather swings are expected this week
National average temperatures will remain above usual levels this week despite a sudden drop caused by powerful storms
Guenter Albers / Budimir Jevtic / Shutterstock
Storms and hot weather are set to continue across much of France this week with official alerts for both expected to be raised.
A heatspike on Wednesday (June 25) will see the national average temperature reach around 26.4C – around 6C hotter than average for the season – whereas for most of the week averages will only be around 2C warmer than usual.
It will be followed by a sudden cold front that will cause temperatures to drop by up to 15C in some central areas.
Despite this shift, overall national average temperatures will remain warmer than usual until at least the beginning of July, regardless of the presence of rain or storms.
Monday June 23
Monday will be cloudier and cooler than last weekend, particularly in the north and east.
An influx of ocean winds will cool down much of the country, bringing a temporary respite with more breathable air.
The northern and western coastlines will see highs of around 24C, rising to 25C inland in the north and centre.
The south-west will still see temperatures of around 30C or more, rising to 33C in Toulouse.
Heatwave warnings remain in place between Toulouse and the Alps as temperatures have been above average for several days.
The Rhône and Isère departments are facing heightened tier-three orange heatwave warnings with several other departments facing less severe yellow alerts.
Some departments in the south-east and east are also facing storm alerts, as powerful storms from the weekend moved across France overnight.
Warnings are subject to change so it is recommended to keep an eye on the official Météo France website.
Tuesday June 24
A return of anticyclonic weather will raise temperatures in several areas.
With the exception of the English Channel and parts of Brittany – where temperatures will remain between 22C and 25C – most of France will see highs of 30C or more.
This will rise to 35C in Lyon and Toulouse.
Skies will be mostly sunny however clouds are expected across the centre and south-west of France.
Storms in the south-west are possible.
Wednesday June 25
The hottest day of the week – caused in part by high overnight temperatures between Tuesday/Wednesday – is expected to see powerful storms across much of the country.
These will move from west to east throughout the day.
However, the stormy conditions will not alleviate the sticky humid heat across much of France, with central areas seeing the hottest temperatures.
Météo France predicts temperatures could reach over 40C in areas around Vichy (Allier), and La Chaîne Météo (owned by Le Figaro) up to 41C in Perpignan (Pyrénées-Orientales).
At the same time, central areas risk heavy rain and hail from the fast-moving storms.
Official weather warnings are only given one day in advance, so expected alerts for Wednesday are not yet in place.
However, checking the Météo France website on Tuesday is recommended, as both the storms and intense heat are likely to see warnings issued.
Throughout the week, the Mediterranean will remain free of storms or rain, and despite the high heats around Perpignan, will see temperatures hover at a stable level.
Thursday June 26
A new movement of brief but intense storms in the east of France is predicted, as a ‘cold front’ moves into France.
Bringing rain and cloudy skies to the north and centre, this fast-paced phenomenon will cause temperatures to drop by around 5C in the north, and between 10C and 15C in the centre and east of France. It means areas seeing close to 40C on Wednesday will barely see 25C on Thursday.
This in turn will end the potential threat of a prolonged heatwave in the north, bringing cooler and fresher air.
In the south-west temperatures will drop by around 5C, but remain unchanged across the Mediterranean and south-east.
Friday June 27
Friday will be mostly calm, with sunny skies in the centre and south, and only partial cloud coverage in the north.
No rain is forecast anywhere, and temperatures will range from 27C to 30C, rising to 34C In the south-west and along the Mediterranean.
Early forecasts see temperatures continuing to climb into the weekend, with another bout of hot weather expected.
