Strong storms in southern France usher in week of contrasting weather

France is set for a week of storms and flutuating temperatures with the south and south-west in particular forecast to see several changes in weather conditions.

Despite a midweek spike in temperatures bringing highs of 35C in the south, this will be short-lived and by Friday temperatures will have dropped to below average for the season. 

Monday August 24 

A new wave of storms will cover the southern half of France, sweeping in from the Atlantic and Pyrénées. 

The western coast and southern half of the country will see rain and lightning, with the risk of hail in Occitanie, the western Mediterranean, and as far north as Vichy. 

Storms and rain will move east as the day continues before mostly petering out in the evening, although a risk of storms will persist along the Mediterranean coast. 

In contrast, conditions in the north will be mostly calm, if cloudy at times.Light drizzle is expected in the north in the late evening. 

Temperatures will vary – around 22C in Lille and Nantes, rising to 27C in Paris, and 30C in the south despite the storms.

In its morning bulletin, state forecaster Météo France placed 16 departments on a heightened warning for stormy conditions, lasting until midnight. 

Residents in the areas affected should prepare their properties by tying down outdoor furniture, parking vehicles safely away from trees and ensuring they have an emergency kit of supplies in case of a power cut. 

You can see safety tips in our article here which also includes information on any insurance claims you may be required to make if a storm affects your property. 

Tuesday August 25 

Tuesday will see a change in conditions, with the north at risk of storms and the south largely calm. 

These storms will be less intense than those at the start of the week, bringing rain and a risk of lightning but not hail. 

They will hit Normandy, snaking down to Paris and central areas around Limoges. 

Elsewhere, the rest of the north will see persistent drizzle across the day. 

Temperatures will drop, with highs of 20C - 25C in the north, rising to 29C in the south. 

Wednesday August 26 

A sudden rise in temperatures is forecast on Wednesday with highs of 35C in the south-west forecast. Most areas will see temperatures of 27C or more, with the exception of the Normandy and Brittany coasts. 

In the afternoon, a brief storm will move in from the Atlantic, bringing a new round of unsettled conditions to the west. 

These will stay in place in coastal areas for much of the day, with new formations covering much of the north of the country by the evening.

It is unclear how intense these will be, but persistent rain is expected alongside lightning. 

The Massif Central, Mediterranean and eastern regions should however benefit from a calm day. 

Thursday August 27 

Stormy conditions will continue on Thursday, with essentially the entire country at risk of rain and lightning. 

Weather models are not yet able to accurately predict the passage of the storms, but particular hotspots highlighted where storms are most likely or will be most intense include the south-west around Bordeaux, the Loire Valley, Vosges mountains, and south-east from the Riviera to the southern Alps. 

Check with local weather reports before Thursday to see more accurate forecasts.

These storms will last for the best part of the day, fizzling out in the evening to be replaced with drizzle. 

The extended downpour may help France’s aquifers refill after a damaging summer drought. 

Friday August 28 

Storms will be limited to the Alpine hills, although the rest of the country will be faced with a persistent on and off drizzle across the day. 

This rain, accompanied by grey clouds, will cover all regions. 

Friday sees a sudden drop in temperatures, with highs of 20C - 22C in most of the country. 

Only the areas around Toulouse (25C) and Montpellier (27C) will be considerably above this, 

Early forecasts for the weekend show the temperature drop to be short-lived, with above average conditions returning by Sunday. 

Rain is expected across the north, with the south benefitting from sunshine.