French weekly weather forecast June 8 - 12: storms then warm days return

A mixed week will see several weather conditions appear across France, from storms at the beginning to strong sun by the end. 

Temperatures will drop at the start of the week, falling below national averages for mid-June, before rising again at the end with highs of 30C and above in the south. 

France has become a temporary battleground between a high pressure system from the Azores, that brings calm, sunny weather, and a series of disturbances from the British Isles.

The Azores high dominates southern areas, with more grey and dreary weather i the north that has moved south from the British Isles. When the two patterns collide, it can lead to storms.

Monday June 8 

A clash between the two weather fronts is forecast on Monday, with storms set to cover a central belt across France. 

The risk of storms runs from Bordeaux to the Alps, as well as the Pyrénées and parts of the Massif Central.

Starting in the west and moving east, storms will be most powerful in the Rhône Valley and Franche-Comté areas, where hail is possible alongside heavy rain and winds.

Currently, state forecaster Météo France has only issued tier-two yellow storm warnings, reminding people in the affected areas to remain alert but not issuing specific advice.

Residents should, however, keep up to date with weather reports in case heightened alerts come into force if the storms are more powerful than first expected.

Outside of the storm belt, rain and clouds will dominate the north, while the south will be sunny and dry.

Highs of 16C - 22C are forecast north to south, however in the south-east highs of 25C are possible in coastal regions and it may reach up to 29C inland around Provence. The area is under the maximum influence of the Azores high, and shielded from the other disturbances by the Alps. 

Tuesday June 9 

Tuesday will see an improvement in conditions for central areas, although grey skies will dominate. 

Rain is forecast in Normandy, Brittany, and Hauts-de-France, but in the form of occasional showers and not heavier downpours.

The south remains largely unaffected by adverse conditions and will be calm throughout, if cloudy. 

While highs of 16C - 20C are forecast in the north, morning temperatures of around 6C are more reminiscent of a crisp spring than pending summer. 

In the south, temperatures will range from 22C up to around 28C along the Mediterranean. 

Wednesday June 10

Conditions will be calm on Wednesday, although there is a persistent threat of showers near the English Channel. 

Cloudy skies are forecast throughout France, but are unlikely to bring rain anywhere except the north.

Highs of 20C - 24C are forecast, rising towards 28C along the Mediterranean. 

There are concerns that the high temperatures, alongside fairly strong Mistral and Tramontane winds, and the lack of rainfall, will increase the risk of forest fire. This is particularly the case for the backcountry around Marseille, site of a major fire last year after a car set on fire on the A55 motorway. 

Residents can check warnings through the Météo France forest fire risk map, updated daily. 

Thursday June 11 

Conditions remain similar on Thursday, although in the north rain will only fall in very small quantities along the English Channel coastline 

Elsewhere, a cloudy but dry day is forecast, with temperatures remaining similar to those seen on Wednesday. 

Friday June 12 

Rain will return to the north, falling above the Seine and in parts of Normandy and the north-east. 

These areas will also see cloudy skies, but elsewhere it should be the sunniest day of the week. 

Temperatures will increase across the board. In the south, highs of 24C - 27C are forecast, up to 31C in Hérault. The north will see highs of 21C - 24C despite the rain. 

Early weekend forecasts point to a sunny, warm, weekend, with no rain and almost no cloud coverage, and temperatures a few degrees above average for the season.