French weekly weather forecast March 2 - 6: warm and dry before rain returns
Highs of 18C, considerably above seasonal averages, expected
It will be sunnier and calmer in the north than the south this week. Archive photo shows Lille (Nord) in the sunshine
Mali lucky/Shutterstock
A calm and dry weekend is forecast for much of France, however there is an ongoing risk of rain in the south.
A change in conditions on Friday will see rain cover much of France including central areas and the capital.
An influx of Saharan sand swept up from North Africa will reach as far as Brittany, but is not accompanied by health warnings.
Monday March 2
The week begins calm in the north, with plenty of sunshine and highs of around 16C remaining above average for the season.
Skies get progressively cloudier moving south, however the risk of rain is limited to the Mediterranean, and will only appear in sporadic showers.
The south-west remains partially cloudy, with highs of 18C.
Heightened river flood warnings have now ended in all departments.
Tuesday March 3
The contrast continues on Tuesday, with the north-south divide becoming more prominent.
Ample sunshine in the north remains – particularly the north east – but the west and south will be cloudy, with a renewed risk of showers in the south-east.
Highs of 16C - 18C are forecast across the country.
Wednesday March 4
Conditions will be very similar midweek, although there will be more sun in the south than at the start.
Only the Mediterranean coast itself will see thick cloud coverage, but Provence and the south-west will see persistent sunshine.
Rain will again fall but will be limited to the Mediterranean coast around Perpignan. Light showers are forecast.
Highs of 16C - 18C are again forecast through most of France, although winds along the English Channel may make it feel slightly cooler than at the start of the week.
In the east, local temperatures may be lower, down to around 13C in Strasbourg.
Thursday March 5
The calm high-pressure system covering the north of France will be pushed away by an incoming pattern from the Mediterranean that will bring clouds and rain further inland.
On Thursday, clouds will stretch to around the Loire, with rain from Bordeaux to Marseille, although again it is not forecast to be heavy.
Showers along the western coast are also expected, up to around Brittany.
Temperatures of 15C - 18C in the north will be warmer than the 14C - 17C in the south, a rarity for France.
It is worth noting that despite the recent warm weather, these temperatures are an anomaly for the time of year, and are around 5C - 9C warmer than usual.
Friday March 6
Rain and clouds will move progressively inland on Friday, reaching the capital.
Areas further north and the east will stay dry, but rain is forecast in the centre of France alongside the south and west.
Cloud coverage will be prominent across most of France, with sun limited to the English Channel and Riviera.
Highs of 15C - 17C are expected across the country, although in the south-west it will be cooler, only reaching around 13C.
Early forecasts for the weekend point towards a sudden drop in temperatures, with the national average potentially falling below seasonal averages for the first time in several weeks.
