Cooler, then heatwave with highs of 40C: French weekly weather forecast August 4 - 8

A heatwave is expected to cover most of France by the end of the week, bringing highs of up to 40C to the Pyrénées and temperatures of 30C or more to almost all areas.

Warm Atlantic winds will move into France from Spain from the start of the week, leading to sharp temperature increases in the south.

National average temperatures to reach up to 6C higher than usual for mid-August by the end of the weekend.

Monday August 4 

The start of the week will however be mostly mild with a contrast between north and south. 

South of the Loire, weather will be largely sunny with just a few clouds, and temperatures across the board reaching around 30C.

In the south-west, this could rise to 35C, with the warmer winds already affecting border regions with Spain.

The north will be mostly cloudy, with showers covering areas north of Paris and across the English Channel. 

However, Storm Floris – set to batter the UK today – will not have any major impact on the area. 

Tuesday August 5 

Conditions are largely similar to Monday with the south continuing to see warm and sunny weather. 

The Mistral and Tramontane winds will pick up in the evening, but will not be powerful enough to cause disturbances. 

Temperatures in the south-west may again reach 35C. 

In the north, a final passage of rain from the Atlantic to the German border will bring showers to central-eastern regions, but is unlikely to fall in higher quantities. 

Despite temperatures of only 20C being recorded in Normandy and around Paris, clear skies and plentiful sunshine means it will feel significantly warmer outside.

Wednesday August 6 

Wednesday will be the calmest day of the week, as wispy clouds cover almost all of France, but do not bring the risk of rain. 

Afternoon temperatures will rise slightly in the north, but in the south remain similar and even drop slightly than at the start of the week. In the south-west they may drop to below 30C. 

It means that Wednesday is forecast to be the coolest of the week, with national average temperatures at 20.6C, around 1C lower than usual for the season.

Thursday August 7 

Temperatures will climb rapidly on Thursday across much of the country, accompanied by clear skies everywhere except the English Channel. 

In the north temperatures of 25C are expected everywhere, rising to 30C in Paris and Brittany.

The south will see potential highs of 36C in Lyon and 39C in Bordeaux, and more generally most departments in the southern half of the country will see temperatures reach ‘heatwave’ level. 

Depending on how warm previous days and nights are (temperatures must cross certain departmental thresholds for three consecutive day and night recordings), weather alerts may be raised before the end of the week. 

If they are not declared by Friday, they will almost certainly be in place in several departments by Sunday (August 10).

The heatwave means that several areas will experience ‘tropical nights’, with temperatures not expected to drop below 25C in Toulouse or Nice from Thursday onwards for several days. 

Friday August 8 

Morning clouds in the north and potential showers around Lille will quickly disperse, leading to similar conditions as on Thursday. 

Slightly cloudy skies will persist in several central areas, but temperature recordings will stay mostly the same. 

Clear blue skies throughout the weekend and the gradual climb of temperatures will see conditions reach their peak on Sunday (August 10) and it may reach close to 40C in parts of the north during this time.

Early reports suggest heatwave conditions may last into the following week, and a second-wind may see temperatures spike again after Wednesday (August 13).