French weekly weather forecast October 5 - 9: much cooler and rain

Weather conditions in France are set to turn decidedly more autumnal this week, as temperatures drop by up to 10C in many areas across the week.

In some central rural locations, the drop will be closer to 14C or even 15C. 

Rain will continue to fall in the south and south-west, with storms possible, and most of the country will see a bout of rain midweek.

Monday October 5 

Monday will be the warmest and calmest day of the week, with plenty of sunshine.

A band of wispy clouds will run from Normandy to Marseille, cutting through central France, but rain will be limited to the western Mediterranean coast and Pyrénées, with persistent but light showers across the day. 

Temperatures will remain above average for the season - 21C - 25C north of the Loire, and up to 26C south of the river. 

The western coast and parts of western-central France near Limoges may see highs of 28C. 

Tuesday October 6 

Warm conditions will continue with pleasant and calm weather across the north and east of France. 

In the south-west, however, thick and muggy air will coincide with thunderstorms. 

These storms will primarily affect the Pyrénées and Garonne Valley, but could reach as far north-west as Brittany and as far east as Marseille.

They are not forecast to be as intense as last week’s storms, however state forecaster Météo France may issue weather alerts depending on the storm’s progression. Read our article here for tips on how to keep up to date. 

Despite the storms, temperatures will remain essentially unchanged from Monday. 

Wednesday October 7 

Wednesday will see a dramatic shift, as a new weather system moves across France from the west.

The system will bring rain to the entire country, starting in the western coast overnight and moving across France throughout the day, hitting the German border and Corsica by the evening. 

In Normandy and western France, showers are forecast throughout the day after the initial bout of rain. This is good news as the lighter rain will allow soils to moisturise after the summer droughts, allowing future rainfall to permeate soils and begin refilling aquifers. 

In the Rhône Valley and Mediterranean, however, there is a risk that the rain will develop into thunderstorms, bringing heavy rain and potential flooding. 

Météo France only issues weather alerts one day in advance, so residents in these areas should check for warnings on Tuesday or Wednesday morning, to see how threatening the storm is forecast to be. 

Temperatures will drop alongside the rain, with highs of 18C - 21C across the country, rising to 23C in Alsace in the afternoon before the rain arrives.

Thursday October 8 

Rainfall will be limited to the eastern third of the country and the Pyrénées, but will be less intense than midweek with little risk of storms. Instead, conditions will be calm and sunny in most areas, if a little cloudy.

A further noticeable drop in temperatures is expected, with highs of 13C - 15C in the north, rising to 16C in the south-west and 18C in the south. 

Only the Riviera will see highs of 20C or more, and in many areas of France temperatures will have dropped 10C between Monday and Thursday. 

Friday October 9 

Friday will see a mixed bag of typically autumn weather.

Showers across the north of France will move in from the English Channel, clipping inland areas and bringing thick clouds. 

The rest of the north, between the Loire and the Seine, will remain dry if rather cloudy.

In the south, powerful Mistral and Tramontane winds will blow, pushing away clouds but bringing a chill to the air despite the sunshine. 

Temperatures will remain similar to Thursday, slightly warmer in the south-west and cooler in the east. Some areas near the German border will register highs of 11C, close to single digit figures for the first time this season. 

Early forecasts for the weekend predict rain in the north, with sunny and calm conditions in the south. Temperatures will remain at these newer, cooler levels.