Hot spell returns to France with highs of 35C forecast in the south
Temperatures are forecast to reach between six and eight degrees above seasonal norms in some areas
Forecasters say this is not yet officially a heatwave, but describe a clear and steady rise in temperatures, especially from Tuesday.
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Temperatures are climbing across France after a brief cooler spell, as early-summer heat spreads across the country for the start of the week.
Hot air is moving north from Spain and North Africa, helped by high pressure linked to the Azores, says state forecaster Météo-France.
The result is a clear north-south divide: temperatures above 30C are now widespread in the south, with peaks of around 35C in parts of Occitanie, Provence and Nouvelle-Aquitaine with even higher local peaks in sheltered inland areas.
Temperatures in parts of the south are forecast to reach between six and eight degrees above seasonal norms.
The north of France is also warming up, with highs on Sunday already around 25C in the Paris area.
Some projections show temperatures reaching or topping 35C in Paris by midweek. In the most extreme projections, 39C in Paris and over 40C in parts of southern France are possible, although forecasters stress that this depends on how the pressure system evolves.
“We could see widespread hot weather from Wednesday onwards,” says Sébastien Léas, a forecaster at Météo-France.
Forecasters say this is not yet officially a heatwave, but describe a clear and steady rise in temperatures, especially from Tuesday.
Unlike the record-breaking episode in late-May, which was driven by a ‘heat dome’, this spell is being pushed along by hot air from the south, making conditions less uniform, but still warm across the country.
Longer June days are adding to the effect. Strong sunshine and shorter night-time cooling means heat builds more quickly and lingers longer into the evening.
The dry ground in many regions also contributes to the rising temperatures.
Heat likely to build at the start of the week
Forecasts suggest the heat could intensify into the week, with warmer air spreading further north.
Unsettled weather is expected to arrive from Thursday, June 18, as cooler Atlantic air begins to push in against the hot air mass.
This is likely to trigger thunderstorms, especially in western and south-western regions, and could mark the start of a gradual breakdown of the heat, although timing and intensity remain uncertain.
