Storms, heat, hail: What is weekend weather outlook for France?

The intense heatwave impacting much of France is finally coming to an end although a number of departments still face warnings for high temperatures, particularly in the south.

A national high of 42.6C was recorded yesterday in Montauban, and although there are no longer any departments facing a red alert for heatwaves, 20 departments in the south east of the country are still facing tier-three orange warnings today (August 25).

Elsewhere the storm that arrived in France yesterday – which is beginning to clear the ‘heat dome’ across parts of the country – has caused a number of warnings itself.

Currently, 22 departments in the east of France are facing tier-three orange warnings for storm conditions, with heavy rain, lightning, and even hail predicted all the way between Lyon and Metz.

Indications for Saturday are that the intensity of both the heat and storms will diminish, with Météo France not currently showing any departments on a tier-three orange warning for the start of the weekend.

Heatwave to fully end by Saturday

Despite the removal of red alerts in the 17 departments that were still facing them, France is not completely clear from heatwave conditions just yet.

Whilst the storm has begun to clear the area across a large part of the country, 20 departments in the south east (the Mediterranean coastline, and the Rhône valley and mountainous east) are still facing tier-three orange warnings.

By the evening, however, a storm is set to sweep southwards, piercing the heat dome in the area and bringing cool air - and rain.

Whilst today (August 25) sees Lyon facing highs of around 33C, by Saturday that drops to 23C, thanks to the storm.

Also by Saturday, only two departments – Alpes-Maritimes and Haute-Corse – will still be facing heatwave warnings, at a reduced tier-two yellow warning.

Around Carcassonne – where temperatures of 40C were recorded four days in a row this week – highs on Saturday will be around 25C.

Read more: France heatwave: what to (and not to) eat and drink

Storm set to cause brief spell of rain and hail

Unlike the heatwave, which caused warnings across some parts of France for over two weeks, the storm is set to be brief.

There are 22 departments facing tier-three orange warnings – all in the east of France, running north from the Rhône Valley up to the German border – and a further 32 on yellow, including the areas around Paris.

After picking up in intensity throughout the evening, where winds could reach around 100km/h in parts of Bourgogne-Franche-Comté and hail could fall anywhere between Lyon and Metz, the storms will become less powerful as they move south.

By Saturday, 41 departments will be facing storm warnings (the east of France, as well as some parts of the Mediterranean coast, and parts of the south west), but all of these warnings will be a tier-two yellow level.

You can find the latest updates for Friday and Saturday’s weather alerts here on the official Météo France website.

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