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Warm, sunny weather across France this weekend; rain forecast in north
The prolonged lack of rain is likely to deepen drought concerns as temperatures rise
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France is set to experience yet another warm and sunny weekend with temperatures rising across much of the country, although parts of the north will see more unsettled conditions.
Parts of north-western France will see cloudy skies and light rain on Friday, before the unsettled weather extends from Brittany towards the Belgian border.
The heaviest downpour will be seen around Flanders. Less severe weather will be seen from the Pays de la Loire and Poitou-Charentes through the Centre-Val de Loire, the Paris region and Ardennes where there will be mainly cloudy skies with a few spots of rain.
By contrast, conditions will remain dry and sunny in the rest of France. Temperatures will be warmer in the south, with afternoon highs reaching 29C in Perpignan, 28C in Marseille and Ajaccio, 26C in Bordeaux, Dijon and Toulouse, and 25C in Paris, Nantes and Rennes.
Temperatures could approach 30C around the Mediterranean.
Then, Saturday will remain mostly dry across France, with some mist or low cloud along the coast in the morning before clearer skies settle in. Temperatures will reach 22-25C along the Atlantic coast and 27-30C around the Mediterranean.
The Mediterranean coast will see plenty of sunshine, with a few clouds and a chance of showers in Corsica during the morning.
Along the Atlantic, winds will strengthen during the afternoon, especially around Aquitaine, where the sea could become fairly rough.
More unsettled weather in the north on Sunday
Sunday will be more unsettled in northern France, while the south stays warm and dry.
Cloud and occasional rain are expected along the Channel, from the Somme Bay to the Nord-Pas-de-Calais coast. Brittany could also start the day with cloud and mist before some brighter spells develop.
Further south, temperatures will reach 23-28C along the Atlantic coast and 27-30C around the Mediterranean. The Mediterranean coast should stay dry, with sea temperatures ranging from around 21C to 28C.
Rain remains scarce
The prolonged lack of rain continues to add to drought concerns, with soils already dry following several months of limited rainfall and periods of hot weather.
La Chaîne Météo said in a post on X that “between now and the end of September, despite a few minor rainfalls, rain will be sorely lacking in our country, and the drought is expected to worsen.”
It added that the high-pressure system over the nearby Atlantic would act as a barrier to weather fronts and the Atlantic flow.
Temperatures could reach 35C next week
The weather is expected to become even warmer next week as a large area of high pressure settles over France.
The latest forecasts suggest that temperatures could reach 35C around Bordeaux and in the Rhône Valley, while highs of around 33C are possible in parts of Occitanie, the western Mediterranean and central France.
