Storms to hit France but exceptionally long period of heat to continue

Thunderstorms are set to spread across parts of the south in France this weekend while exceptionally high temperatures continue in much of the country. 

Following several days of intense heat, the arrival of cooler air at altitude is creating an unstable atmosphere. Météo-France forecast the first storms over the Pyrenees on Saturday afternoon, which are expected to become more widespread during the evening, reaching the Basque Country and parts of Nouvelle-Aquitaine before moving further into the south-west overnight. 

The storms could bring heavy rainfall, hail, frequent lightning and strong gusts of wind potentially reaching 80-100km/h, according to La Chaîne Météo. 

On Sunday, the storm risk will extend across much of southern France, from the south-west towards the Massif Central, the Alps and parts of the south-east. 

However, the storms are likely to be localised, meaning conditions will vary between neighbouring areas. 

People planning outdoor activities, particularly in mountainous areas, are advised to remain cautious. Storms can develop rapidly in the mountains, while heavy rain can make roads dangerous due to reduced visibility. 

Heatwave conditions continue 

Twelve departments are currently under an orange heatwave warning: Alpes-Maritimes, Ardèche, Corse-du-Sud, Haute-Corse, Drôme, Gard, Isère, Rhône, Savoie, Haute-Savoie, Var and Vaucluse. 

Météo-France says temperatures are expected to exceed 30C across most of the country on Saturday, with 34-38C widely expected in the south. Temperatures could reach 38-39C locally in the south-west and 39-40C in the Gard. 

The heatwave may also last longer than previously expected. Météo-France forecasts that the current period of heat will continue into next week, with temperatures rising again from Monday. If correct, it could become one of the longest heatwaves ever recorded in France. 

A brief break before more heat

Sunday should bring some relief from the heat across parts of southern France as the storms move through, although temperatures will remain high.

However, from Tuesday, high pressure is forecast to strengthen over Europe, bringing another increase in temperatures. From Wednesday through Friday, parts of northern France could see temperatures of 35C, with highs of 40C in some areas.

Despite recent thunderstorms in parts of France, soil dryness remains exceptionally high across the country, continuing to raise drought concerns.