French weekly weather forecast September 1 - 5: wet and stormy

A wet and stormy week is in store for many in France as September begins. 

Storms are forecast to hit the south-east and Mediterranean at the start of the week before a second batch focuses on the centre and east of the country later in the week. Drizzle and cloudy weather is likely elsewhere. 

Monday September 1 

The week begins much as it means to go on, with storms and showers. 

In the east and south-east early morning thunderstorms are set to last for much of the day, bringing heavy rain along the Rhône Valley and to the Mediterranean.

Several departments in the south-east are on heightened alert for storms (Vaucluse, Bouches-du-Rhône, Var) and heavy rain/flash flooding (the three on alert for storms as well as Isère, Drôme, Hautes-Alpes, and Alpes-de-Haute-Provence). 

Nice and the surrounding area may also be impacted, but will not face the brunt of the storms.

Schools in the Var and Bouches-du-Rhône have pushed back the rentrée (back-to-school) until Tuesday, due to the weather conditions. 

Up to 100mm of rain may fall in the Rhône Valley across the week, almost all of it early today.

State forecaster Météo France has also placed much of the north, centre, and east on alert for less severe tier-two yellow storm warnings. 

This is due to an Atlantic disturbance that will make its way from the coast inland. 

These may develop into thunderstorms in some areas. 

The coastal south-west also faces warnings, but inland areas around Toulouse should see calm weather although there may be drizzle. 

Temperatures will hover around 20C, dropping slightly below in Brittany and slightly above in the south-east.

Tuesday September 2 

Storms are due to peter out by Tuesday morning, however a fresh set of wind and rain from the Atlantic will cover the west of France, before progressively moving inland. 

Bringing winds of up to 60 km/h, the showers will reach the German border by the end of the day and as far south as the Auvergne area. 

Temperatures will drop slightly in the north, down to 16C in Brittany but up to 26C in Nice and Lyon. 

Wednesday September 3 

Strong winds will continue, reaching potentially 90 km/h in parts of coastal Brittany and Normandy, although for the most part rain will stop and be limited to showery patches in the two regions. 

Elsewhere, a calm and sunny day is in store, with the level of sunlight and temperatures both increasing the further south you go. 

Highs of 30C in the south-west will be some of the highest of the week across France, and it should reach 25C or higher along the Mediterranean coast. 

Thursday September 4 

Showers will continue in the north of France, with a slightly cloudier but still warm south. 

However, sudden and potentially violent storms in the evening along the German border will bring rainfall that drifts westwards until the weekend. 

Heavy rain is expected during the storm but is likely to become weaker as it moves further into France.

The highest temperatures are forecast along the Mediterranean, where it may reach 30C near Montpellier, with the south-west seeing highs of 25C. 

Friday September 5 

A batch of rain will stretch from the German border to Normandy and Brittany in the morning, bringing sustained rainfall to most departments along the way. 

Storms may appear in central areas as the day progresses.

Skies in the rain’s path are set to remain cloudy throughout most of the day – even when there is no rain – but temperatures are still likely to hit 20C in all areas except coastal Brittany and Normandy. 

The south will remain sunny and warm with temperatures similar to Thursday. 

Early forecasts for the weekend see patches of rain in the north, but an otherwise calm – if cloudy – weekend for most, with temperatures likely to rise above early September averages.