37C in Brittany, heatwave warnings extend: French weekend weather forecast June 21 - 22

The first major heatwave of this summer is set to last until at least Monday (June 23), with the majority of France facing warnings across the weekend. 

Temperatures of up to 38C in Bordeaux are forecast over the weekend – the highest in the country – and between 33C to 36C across much of the west and south-west. 

Heightened heatwave warnings already in place are set to continue in the west until the start of next week, and lower-level warnings come into force across all but the south of France on Saturday. 

Friday June 20 

A clear sky and blazing sun will contribute to the hot weather across France, with only a small section of the Alps set to see any rain. 

Wispy clouds in the east will do little to cool temperatures. 

The west and north will see peaks of 33C in Normandy, 35C in the Loire, and up to 37C in Brittany. Highs of 36C/37C in Rennes are 10C warmer than average for the season. 

Temperatures in most areas have risen rapidly in the early morning, although across the south were already high overnight. 

Early morning temperatures in Nice – not facing a heatwave warning – were 25C. 

High temperatures will remain in place well into the evening, and at 21:00 are still likely to be above 30C in Toulouse, Orléans, Nantes, Lyon, and up to 33C in Bordeaux. 

As of 10:00 this morning, 16 departments are facing heightened tier-three orange heatwave warnings, mostly in the west and north-west.

These higher levels mean local authorities can enact heatwave plans to allocate more resources to vulnerable people, and those in the areas should take precautionary measures to avoid heat-related illnesses. 

These warnings are subject to change, and it is recommended to check local weather reports and the Météo France website. 

Saturday June 21 

Conditions will remain similar on Saturday, with highs of 35C in Paris and 37C in Bordeaux. 

The extended heat means heatwave warnings will be raised in much of the north, centre, and east, although at a less severe level. 

As a reminder, canicule heatwave warnings are only raised when day- and night-time temperatures reach a certain level, which is why they are not yet in place across some areas facing high temperatures at the start of the weekend. 

This is also why heatwave warnings are not in place along the Mediterranean. 

Despite warm temperatures similar to those felt in the north, these are only slightly above average for the season and do not warrant local warnings, and have not been above average for a sufficiently long period of time (although this may change by the start of next week).

Hikers are being warned of the potential for storms in the Alps and Pyrénées that may hit at any point throughout the day but are most likely in the afternoon. 

Those planning to celebrate the Fête de la Musique should be wary of warm temperatures lasting late into the night, remain hydrated and follow local advice.

In some areas, particularly the south, temperatures will not drop below 24C overnight leading to a series of ‘nuits tropicales’. 

In parts of inland Brittany, the Loire Valley and Normandy, temperatures will drop by around 10C during the evening as winds pick up – although still remain in the 20s – but elsewhere remain high.

A small risk of storms and rain is possible in Brittany and coastal Normandy in the evening after the exceedingly warm temperatures. 

Sunday June 22 

Sunday should see conditions shift slightly, as maximum temperatures in the north drop but increase along the Mediterranean. 

Highs of around 30C in Brittany, Normandy, Paris and other northern areas are considerably lower than the preceding days if still warmer than average.

The western coast will also be less warm than the start of the weekend, although Bordeaux and the inland areas of the south-west will still face exceptional heat and highs of around 37C are likely to persist.

Alongside them, the centre and east will see scorching temperatures, as will the southern coast. 

Official heatwave warnings for the end of the weekend will only be issued on Saturday, however they are likely to see heightened alerts remain in the south west, and potentially be raised in the east. 

Less severe warnings may come into force across the south. 

Storms are possible from the Pyrénées to the Alps including through the Massif Central mountain range.

Early predictions for next week see high temperatures remaining in the south on Monday, but expected to fall as the week goes on.