French weekend weather forecast June 27 - 28: will heatwave last?

France’s historic heatwave will only come to an end for some this weekend, as intense heat continues in the east of the country. 

The record heatwave, which has smashed France’s all-time national temperature records for three consecutive days, will be broken in the west, but is only set to intensify in the east and south. 

Powerful storms across several areas will help reduce temperatures but bring their own risks. 

Friday June 26 

Storms across the west of France on Thursday evening have reduced heatwave warnings and conditions along the western coast. 

However, 61 departments remain on a red alert for heatwave, across the inland west, centre, east, and north of the country. 

While temperatures along the western coast will remain above average (38C in Bordeaux, 37C in Nantes) lower temperatures overnight have helped reduce the pressure of the daytime temperatures.

Inland, highs of around 39C in Paris are forecast, and in Strasbourg and other areas near the German border highs of 41C are possible. These would be all-time heat records. 

Warnings of temperatures well over 40C in central France remain, particularly around Vichy. 

There is a risk of storms across northern and eastern France. Weaker storms in the morning near the German border are forecast, but later in the day more powerful storms are expected to sweep in from Normandy and move inland to central France. 

Unlike Thursday’s Atlantic storms however, they will not help cool down these areas. 

Overnight temperatures are set to remain excessively warm in the areas facing red alerts, above 25C in most cases.

Regardless of the heatwave warnings in place for your department, taking precautions against the heat remains important – read our article here for further tips. 

Saturday June 27

Conditions on Saturday will be similar to Friday, with cooler temperatures in the west and intense heat remaining in the east and central areas.

In Brittany, temperatures will fall to around 25C – still above average for the season but far more manageable than during the week.

Likewise, in Nantes, La Rochelle, and even Biarritz temperatures will hover around 30C, considerably cooler than the rest of the week and combined with a breeze from the Atlantic.

Inland areas will see temperatures similar to Friday, with 40C again possible in the east. 

Storms are forecast in the south-west and the north in the evening, and should bring further relief to these areas as they finally pierce the heat dome above these areas and let in fresh air. 

Cooler evening temperatures mean that departments in Normandy and most of Hauts-de-France will see red alerts for heatwave conditions lifted, but this is subject to change. 

You can keep up with weather alerts from state forecaster Météo France and local sources. 

Sunday June 28 

Storms will connect and sweep east across most of France throughout Sunday, bringing relief to more areas. 

The west will see its heatwave end by Sunday. Although temperatures will remain above average during the day they are expected to remain below 30C. 

In addition, overnight temperatures will drop to below 20C, below the threshold for heatwave declarations and allowing buildings to cool down overnight. 

In the north, temperatures will remain around 25C in Normandy, and 30C across Paris and central regions. 

This rises to 35C in the east and centre.

The east and south-east will continue to suffer from the heatwave, with conditions remaining largely unchanged. 

The south-east has remained among the coolest areas of France as it avoided the warm air mass covering the country, but days of slow temperature rises heat and warm nights finally begin to take their toll. 

Highs of 36C along the Rhône Valley and 35C throughout the Riviera are possible, reaching close to 40C throughout inland Provence. 

The social media posts below provide an overview of the expected day and night temperatures across France this weekend as well as expected conditions.

Early forecasts for next week show the north, west, and central areas remaining sunny and calm, with temperatures above usual for the season but far from heatwave thresholds. 

Temperatures in the south-east will continue to climb until midweek, when they will drop with the record heatwave coming to an end and no area of the country expected to see temperatures above 30C. 

However, forecasters have warned of a possible third heatwave to hit France, peaking around July 14.