Temperature in south of France hits 24C: what is expected for weekend?

Temperatures up to 24C in some parts in the south of France, as a burst of unseasonably warm weather in the south of France is set to continue today, bringing.

Around 30 January temperature records were broken yesterday (January 24), including a 23.3C registered in Collobrières in the Var (Alpes-Maritimes).

More records are expected to be broken today if predicted highs are reached in departments along the Mediterranean.

In the north, temperatures will also be above average but rainfall and cloudy skies will be predominant.

Forecasts for the weekend see temperatures in the north plummet to below 10C, and in the morning hover around 1C - 3C, bringing a return of morning frosts and ice on roads.

The southern half of France is set to partially avoid this, however, and highs of 15C will remain, particularly near the Mediterranean coast.

The unseasonable weather is continuing to cause concern in several southern departments where water levels remain critically low and drought conditions are already being experienced.

Records broken, drought fears remain in south

There were predictions that France would see a record-beating January high yesterday – ousting the record of 25C recorded in Perpignan 80 years ago but this did not happen.

However, many other cities in the south did record January highs including Montpellier (22.1C), Nîmes, and Arles (both at 21C). Several cities saw temperatures a whole 1C higher than previous records.

The post below shows that in general, temperatures have been at least 5C above average across all of France, when combining temperature from the last seven days – this average includes the chilly weather over the weekend, meaning in reality this is much higher in some areas.

In the Pyrénées-Orientales department, a ‘plan of action’ will be unveiled on January 30, devoted to fighting against a drought crisis.

The warm weather is contributing to melting snow on mountain peaks far earlier than usual, meaning the replenishment of water tables that usually happens in spring is no longer expected this year, worsening the already critically low water table levels.

Read more: What is France's 'drought' website VigiEau?

Will the weekend see temperatures drop?

The arrival of the weekend will see a new anticyclonic wind cover most of the country.

It will lower morning temperatures, particularly in the north of France and on Saturday (January 27), and cause icy conditions in the north near the Belgian and German borders during the morning.

Temperatures elsewhere will be cooler, although a drop below freezing is unlikely, even in the north.

Rainfall across Brittany, Normandy, and the centre of France is expected, and in the south temperatures will be slightly cooler (although still above average) with some cloudy skies.

Temperatures next week are set to be much the same, with no exceptional weather event currently forecast.

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