Rain and cooler temperatures forecast in France this weekend

Rain will move across parts of France this weekend as temperatures fall, with heavy showers possible in the south-east.

Rain is forecast in western France today, before moving towards the north-east on Saturday, following a fall in temperatures after this week’s warm weather.

The east will remain warm, with afternoon highs of 25C in Lyon and 26C in Clermont-Ferrand. Brest and Rennes will see highs of around 17C, according to Météo-France.

Afternoon highs are expected to reach 25C in Perpignan and Ajaccio, and 23C in Nice and Marseille.

Meanwhile, rain is already affecting Brittany and the Cotentin peninsula, with showers also expected in parts of northern France and Nouvelle-Aquitaine.

Skies should gradually clear near the English Channel during the afternoon, while the east will remain mostly sunny.

Winds from the north and north-west will strengthen across northern France, with gusts of up to 50km/h and locally 60km/h around the Boulonnais area.

Rain spreads north-east on Saturday 

Rain is forecast from the south-west to the north-east on Saturday. Showers will be more frequent in the mountains, while rain in lower areas should be lighter.

Showers are also expected near the English Channel, particularly between Seine-Maritime and the Belgian border.

Temperatures will fall further, with highs of 14C to 17C across much of northern France. The Mediterranean coast will remain milder, with temperatures of 20C to 25C.

Strong northerly winds though will make it feel colder as gusts could reach 50km/h to 60km/h near the Channel coast and in areas affected by the mistral and tramontane. In the Rhône Valley, gusts could reach 80km/h locally on Saturday afternoon.

More showers on Sunday

Sunday will bring another cold start, with morning temperatures falling further across France.

Highs are expected to reach 10C to 15C in many regions, while temperatures near the Mediterranean could reach 17C to 22C.

Rain is possible in eastern and southern France as cold air moves in from the North Sea. The south-east, particularly around the Gulf of Lion, could see heavier rain from Sunday into Monday.

Drivers should check the latest weather forecasts and traffic conditions before setting off for the Toussaint school holidays, as rain and strong winds could affect journeys.