Heat returns to France as 36°C forecast this weekend
High temperatures of up to 36°C will be back in France this weekend, especially in the south west and the Rhône Valley, forecaster Météo France has said.
The weather is expected to be fine, calm, and sunny across most of France this Saturday and Sunday (August 24-25) due to high pressure approaching northern Europe from the west and hot air rising from northern Africa and Spain.
Today (Friday August 23), temperatures are expected to reach at least 30°C in the south of the country - much higher than the average for this time of year, the forecaster said - while hot air from the southern Mediterranean is set to push the mercury even higher on Saturday.
Peaks of 35-36°C are expected in the south west and the Rhône Valley.
The north of the country will also see hot weather, with 30-34°C expected in Caen, Reims, Rennes, Auxerre, Tours, Nantes and Bourges. Paris is forecast to reach 32°C on Saturday, and 33°C on Sunday.
On Sunday, cloud cover from the west is expected to lower temperatures in some areas, with some local storms expected in the Alps and in Haute-Corse, and a drop to a cooler 25-29°C in the G7 host town of Biarritz, as well as in Bordeaux and Limoges.
Yet, highs of 31-35°C are still expected on Sunday, including in Toulouse, Aix-en-Provence, Clermont-Ferrand, and Orange.
Vichy is forecast for 36°C, while Lille, Rouen, Nancy and Colmar will be at a slightly cooler 31°C.
The heat is expected to continue into next week, although at slightly lower temperatures, Météo France said.
