Warm days - then snow: French weekly weather forecast December 16 - 20

A contrasting week of weather is in store for France, with a calm beginning to be replaced by bitter arctic winds and snowfall. 

Temperatures will rise as the week goes on before a sharp drop going into the weekend.

Monday December 16 

The week begins mildly, with skies cloudy in the north but little rain – only coastal Normandy is expected to see showers.

In the south and mountainous areas, skies will be clearer and sunny. 

Temperatures will be warmer than usual for mid-December averages, particularly in the south-east and Mediterranean (16C in Nice, 14C in Montpellier), and the north (12C in Paris). 

Morning fog is likely in the north, centre, and mountainous areas.

Read more: Driving through fog in France: rules and penalties for infractions

Tuesday December 17

Conditions are almost identical on Tuesday, with light showers along the English Channel.

However grey clouds will dominate the centre and north as well as parts of the Mediterranean coast despite the lack of rain. 

Wednesday December 18 

An Atlantic disturbance sees the arrival of rain in Brittany on Wednesday morning, making its way across the north and along the Loire valley. 

Rainfall should not be strong, although skies will once again be grey and cloudy in these areas.

In the south, skies will be sunnier, and predictions currently see temperatures everywhere south of Bordeaux in double figures. 

This may rise to 20C in the Pyrénées foothills due to the Foehn effect, which sees temperatures rise rapidly when warm air comes into contact with a cooler mountainside.

This phenomena caused overnight temperatures of 26C in the same area last month.

Read more: Overnight November temperatures of 26C in south-west France

Be aware however that temperatures are set to change rapidly at short notice, and in some places the difference between the minimum and maximum daytime temperatures may be around 10C. 

For example, weather forecaster La Chaîne Météo predicts daytime temperatures on Wednesday to fluctuate between 6C and 15C in Bordeaux, or 2C and 14C in Aurillac. 

Thursday December 19 

A shift will take place on Thursday, with a disturbance making its way across the country, bringing rain to everywhere except the Mediterranean coast. 

Snow will fall at altitudes of between 500m and 800m depending on the area.

Despite all of this, Thursday will be the warmest day of the week. Temperatures will be at their highest in the morning and daytime, and it is only the advent of evening which will cause polar winds to cover France.

The national average temperature will be nearly 4C warmer than average for the season. 

Friday December 20 

This will be a short-lived warm burst, with Friday seeing temperatures plummet by around 5C, bringing the national average below seasonal norms. 

Polar winds are the main factor behind the temperature drop, although rain will continue across the centre of the country.

The Mediterranean coast will again be spared, however strong winds will provide a chilly backdrop even if skies remain free of rain

Snow will continue to fall at around 600m above sea level.