French weekly weather forecast May 11 - 15: Rain, cold and some snow

A wet week is in store for most of France, with persistent drizzle in all areas except the Mediterranean coast and parts of the Massif Central. 

These areas will still see rain at least once during the week, however. 

Alongside the rain, temperatures will drop throughout the week, reaching a national average on Friday (May 15) that is more than 5C lower than usual for the middle of the month. 

Monday May 11 

Monday gives a snapshot of the week to come, with showers in the north and east and heavier rainfall in central areas. 

In the east, from Strasbourg to the southern Alps, there is a risk of storms, with the Atlantic coast and Mediterranean the only areas free of any rain risk. No heightened weather alerts are in place, however.

Temperatures of around 12C - 14C in the north and 20C in the south remain slightly below average for the season.

The French Riviera may see temperatures of 23C – the highest of the day – alongside plentiful sunshine. It comes after several weeks of the area being unusually cooler than other regions of the country, including sometimes the north.

Tuesday May 12 

Tuesday will be the calmest and driest day of the week, as a high pressure weather system from the Azores moves in from the Atlantic to briefly cover much of the country. 

While it will bring thick clouds to most of the north and west, it will push away the rainclouds previously covering France. 

The east, Rhône Valley and south-east will remain under plentiful sunshine.

All of the country will remain dry save for the Pyrénées foothills and Perpignan, where showers will persist. 

Temperatures will also increase, around 14C - 16C in the north (potentially 17C in Normandy), and 16C - 20C across the south. 

Only the east, with highs of 12C despite the sunshine, will be cooler than on Monday. 

Wednesday May 13 

The brief respite will be over, as renewed rainclouds cover France. 

Grey clouds bringing drizzly showers will slope across the north, centred around Paris and Normandy as they arrive from the British Isles. 

In the south, rainfall in the Pyrénées may turn stormy, and potentially fan northwards up to the Massif Central. 

Thursday May 14 

Those looking to enjoy Thursday’s public holiday (Ascension) outside are likely to be disappointed. 

Grey clouds are again set to cover skies across the country, bringing rain throughout the day. 

Unlike Wednesday, almost the entire country will be affected by drizzle with only the Mediterranean staying dry.

Rain will be persistent throughout the day, and may become heavier as the day progresses. 

Highs of 10C - 13C in the north, and 13C - 17C in the south are lower than usual for the season, with only the Mediterranean (18C - 20C) expected to come close to seasonal norms for the day.

Note that the rain will be accompanied by a chilly wind, making time spent outside feel cooler than any given temperature. 

Snow is possible at altitudes of 1,300m or higher in the Alps and in parts of the Pyrénées. 

The Massif Central may see small flecks of snow at its highest altitudes, but most will be in the Alps. 

Friday May 15 

The allure of the four-day weekend linked to the Ascension public holiday means that schools will be closed on Friday and Saturday (May 16) to allow families to benefit. 

Those planning to do so and taking the Friday off will though be greeted by further rainfall, with the entire country once again set to be impacted by blustery showers. 

This time, rain will snake down to the Mediterranean, hitting Nice and Montpellier. 

Winds are set to persist, and temperatures will drop by 1C or 2C down from Thursday’s already chilly feel. 

It means temperatures are similar to those experienced on an average Toussaint (November 1) than a May public holiday. 

The risk of snow continues, at altitudes of 1,200m and above. 

Early forecasts for the weekend predict a return of sun in the south and east, slowly pushing north of the Loire on Sunday. Rainfall, however, will persist in the north throughout.