French weekly weather forecast July 14–18: warm but no heatwave expected

A cloudy and potentially stormy start to the week will make way for warmer temperatures, but these are unlikely to lead to heatwave warnings. 

Higher-than-average national temperatures, particularly in the south-west, will reach a peak on Friday (July 18). 

It means that any warnings that come into force will not appear until the start of next week (July 21), as temperatures will not be above average for the required number of days until this period.

Monday July 14 

Earlier forecasts for bank holiday Monday saw widespread storms, however the day is now expected to be calmer. 

The east of France, from the German border down to the Rhône Valley, will still face pockets of stormy weather, but of a fairly low intensity. 

Rain is forecast in Normandy, Brittany and the Pyrénées but other areas will remain dry.

Skies will remain cloudy even in areas with no rain – especially in the west – although sunshine is expected along the Mediterranean. 

Temperatures will be mostly average for the season with highs of 32C along the Mediterranean, 35C in the Rhône Valley, 30C in the south-west, and between 25C and 29C in the north. 

Storms will stop by the evening, but pockets of rain will remain in the north and Rhône Valley, so check local conditions if heading out for a firework (or drone) display.

Tuesday July 15 

The threat of storms will disappear on Tuesday, however the Atlantic winds replacing them will bring cloud coverage to most of France. 

Rain is forecast in coastal areas of Normandy and Brittany (where winds along the English Channel will also blow at up to 70 km/h), and uninterrupted sunshine is only expected south of Lyon/Bordeaux.

In turn, temperatures will be slightly lower in the north, reaching no higher than 26C (and 20C along much of the coast). 

In the south, highs of 35C along the Mediterranean and in the Rhône Valley are possible, as are highs of 30C in the south-west. 

Tuesday will be the coolest day for at least the next week or so, however national average temperatures will still be around 0.5C warmer than average for the season. 

Wednesday July 16 

Midweek sees a brief return to the traditional north-south divide, with cloud coverage throughout the north and sunny skies in the south. 

Temperatures will drop slightly in the north, with most areas closer to 20C than 25C, but will be slightly higher in the south. 

Showers are possible in parts of the north, although they will be brief and unlikely to bring anything more than drizzle. 

Thursday July 17 

Clouds will be pushed further north, covering only Paris and the Hauts-de-France region, leading to sun over around two-thirds of the country. 

Temperatures will also rise - up to 27C in Paris, parts of inland Brittany and central France. In the south, highs of 30C and above are likely everywhere and up to 35C in the south-east. 

The south-west will see highs of 32C, but it will feel warmer due to the powerful sun. 

Friday July 18 

The end of the week will see clouds again covering much of the north and centre of France, as well as the western coast, and rain along the English Channel. 

However, temperatures will continue to increase, with most areas in the north reaching 30C or above. 

In the south, similar temperatures are possible, rising to 35C in the south-west. 

The south-east will see the coolest ‘in-shade’ temperatures, but sunny skies mean those outside will feel as warm - if not warmer - than those in the direct south.