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Summer-like temperatures to return to France this weekend
Dry conditions are set to continue across much of the country as highs reach 30C in the south
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Temperatures are once again set to rise across France, with highs reaching 30C in the south following a cooler start of the week.
The warm and dry conditions put an additional strain on the country as it continues to experience very dry soils after the unusually hot summer.
Friday will be a mixed day, with some cloud and a few showers in parts of the country, while the south-east remains mostly sunny.
Afternoon highs are expected to reach 23C in Paris, 25C in Bordeaux and Toulouse, 27C in Nice and Perpignan, and 28C in Marseille.
Showers, which could become stormy, are expected over the southern Alps and eastern Corsica, while winds along the Channel could reach 40-60km/h.
Temperatures rise on Saturday
Saturday will be warmer across most of France with most areas remaining dry and sunny. Some cloud will be more persistent near the Channel and some fog or mist is possible in parts of Brittany, Pays de la Loire and Auvergne during the morning.
Afternoon temperatures are expected to reach 21-26C across the northern half of the country and 25-30C in the south, according to Météo-France.
The Channel coast will remain cooler, with some rain possible in the morning and temperatures generally around 20-23C.
Further south, temperatures will again be close to summer levels. Chaîne Météo forecasts up to 28-29C in parts of southern France, including the Languedoc.
A few showers or thunderstorms are also possible over the southern Alps and Corsica.
Warm weather continues on Sunday
The warm conditions are expected to continue on Sunday. Météo-France forecasts slightly cooler conditions in the north, where cloud will limit temperatures. In the south, however, temperatures are expected to rise further, with 30C reached more widely.
The weather is then expected to remain mostly dry and warm into the beginning of next week, with temperatures around 30C possible in southern France.
Dry conditions remain a concern
The lack of rain is becoming an increasing concern after the unusually hot summer.
Météo-France said soils are becoming extremely dry, with the level of dryness unusually high for mid-September.
The Mediterranean is the main exception, although fire danger remains elevated in parts of the region.
The current high-pressure conditions are also limiting the amount of rain that can reach France, further deepening the drought crisis, which shows no signs of slowing down as autumn approaches.
