Record French heatwave ends for most this week

France's historic June heatwave eased across most of the country on Sunday (June 28), leading to several departments seeing warnings lifted at the start of the week (June 29).

Powerful Atlantic air pushed out the hot Saharan air mass that has fuelled days of exceptional temperatures, bringing relief to much of western and central France but also triggering severe thunderstorms on Sunday.

The arrival of cooler Atlantic air led to thunderstorms across western and central France on Sunday, with more storms forecast at the start of the week in the east and the south-east as the air moves across France.

The change comes after one of France's most intense June heatwaves on record, with temperatures widely reaching 35C to 40C.

The temperatures have placed emergency services under strain with 1,000 more deaths than usual recorded between Wednesday and Saturday. Read more here.

Temperatures to fall by up to 15C

Changes were felt from Normandy to the Pyrenees, where afternoon temperatures on Sunday fell by up to 10C compared to previous days.

Across the week, temperatures will drop by up to 15C from during the peak of the heatwave. 

Even so, highs will remain above seasonal averages, reaching around 28C in Paris, 30C in Bordeaux and about 25C in Lille on Monday.

The capital and surrounding departments remain on a tier-two yellow alert for heatwave warnings, as day-time temperatures are high but night-time temperatures are now cooler.

The intensity of the heatwave however means that this drop, despite sounding intense, is largely bringing temperatures back to seasonal norms, and not that a cold spell is on the way .

The social media post below shows expected temperatures on Wednesday (July 1) compared to last week.

Indeed, national average temperatures will remain around 2C above typical for the start of July, and remain above average for the next week.

Conditions across France (essentially all regions but the south-east) will remain calm and pleasant throughout the week.

Clouds may appear midweek but only be wispy and limited to the north, with sunshine expected at all other times.

The week will also remain dry, except from brief showers in Brittany at the end of the week.

Heatwave continues in south-east

Despite the end of heatwave conditions in the north, the south-east is expected to see intense heat at the start of the week.

Departments in Provence and Corsica are on a heightened alert for heatwave conditions until at least Tuesday (June 30) but likely leading into the start of July. 

Along the Mediterranean coast temperatures of 35C to 40C are forecast from Roussillon to Provence as the southerly mistral and south-westerly tramontane winds develop.

Meteorologists warn that these dry winds will significantly increase wildfire danger throughout next week. Read more about the forest fire risk map in our article here.

Although another spell of very hot weather remains possible later this summer, Mr Marquis said it was unlikely to match the intensity of the June episode.

"The summer is only just beginning, unfortunately," he said, adding that temperatures of 39C or 40C could return in parts of France between late July and early August.