French weekend weather forecast October 18-19: rain returns but temperatures remain stable
Rain will hit north-west on Sunday before moving across much of the country
Rain was previously forecast across most of France on Sunday
2021 berni0004/Shutterstock
Rain is set to return to some areas of France this weekend, bringing an end to the calm weather seen so far throughout much of October.
However, sunshine and clear skies will remain in many areas, particularly in the south on Saturday.
Friday October 17
Friday will remain peaceful in the main with calm skies and no risk of rain.
Cloud formations north of the Seine will limit sunshine near the Belgian border, but elsewhere clear skies are expected..
At least eight hours of sunlight are forecast in the south and south-west.
Temperatures will remain at similar levels seen throughout much of the last week, with highs of 15C to 17C in the north and up to 22C in the south.
The south-west may see highs of 24C.
Saturday October 18
Clouds will again cover parts of the north, but otherwise sunny skies are expected in most areas.
Perpignan and parts of the eastern Pyrénées may see thick clouds move across the border from Spain, but rain is unlikely.
Despite the calm conditions, Saturday marks the end of the British anticyclone covering most of France – that will begin to move southwards – however the effects will not be immediate.
In fact, temperatures in the north may even be slightly warmer than on Friday after the winds move southwards, reaching up to 17C in Paris.
Highs of 20C in the south are likely, with the south-west set to see potentially 26C around Biarritz.
Sunday October 19
Rain will appear in the north-west, covering Brittany and much of Normandy, as a high-pressure wind system from the Atlantic quickly sweeps in to replace the low-pressure anticyclone.
However, current forecasts predict the retreat of the low-pressure system will be slower than initially expected, meaning much of the centre, east, and south of France will benefit from one extra day of calm weather.
Clouds may also form in the western area of the Mediterranean, but outside of these areas skies should again be sunny with temperatures at a similar level to Saturday.
Earlier predictions saw rain for most of France on Sunday, and it is worth noting that there is still a chance of this depending on how quickly the low-pressure system moves south.
If the rain does not arrive on Sunday, it is almost certain to come on Monday (October 20), covering essentially all of France.
Storms along the Mediterranean are also forecast for the start of next week.
