Heatwave forecast for France this weekend: how hot and for how long?
The weather service has placed six departments on alert due to the high temperatures
Temperatures will be highest in the south-west, with six departments on high (orange) alert on August 9
Vereshchagin Dmitry / Shutterstock
France is set for a spike in temperatures this weekend, with highs in some areas forecast to reach above 40C and six departments placed on high (orange) alert by French weather service Météo France.
Temperatures will begin to climb on Friday (August 9), reaching higher than average in all regions.
In the south-east, where temperatures are already high and low-level heatwave warnings have been in place for some time, the heat will peak on Saturday (August 10).
Some areas will reach up to 38C, particularly along the Rhône and in the Vaucluse department, as well as other inland areas of Provence. The temperatures given are for the shade.
The north of France will see temperatures of 30C or more on both Saturday and Sunday (August 11), with highs of up to 33C in Paris.
This may affect the closing ceremony of the Olympic Games.
Read more: Tom Cruise stunt?: what to expect at Paris Olympics closing ceremony
Highs of 40C in the south-west
However, the hottest temperatures of the weekend are expected on Sunday in the south-west.
Highs of 40C are forecast around Bordeaux and the Atlantic coast, and will hover around 38C in many inland areas in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region.
Conditions will quickly return to normal here, however, with a drop on Monday (August 12) of more than 10C in the south-west, where highs of 27C are expected along the coast.
Around Lyon, temperatures will remain high, reaching up to 37C.
Elsewhere, temperatures will drop slightly but remain high.
Tuesday (August 13) will see temperatures return to typical August averages almost everywhere, with the exception of pockets of the south-east and Rhône valley.
Six departments on high alert
The southern departments of Aude, Bouches-du-Rhône, Gard, Hérault, Pyrénées-Orientales and Vaucluse have been placed on high (orange) alert by Météo France.
Four more departments are also on alert due to the heat, namely Var, Alpes-Maritimes, Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, Drôme and Ardèche.
Such warnings are issued when the temperatures remain above a certain level for three or more days (and for canicule warnings, if they remain above certain levels for three or more nights).
Read more: What are the different heatwave warnings in France?
Night-time temperatures have remained high across much of the south, and between Friday to Monday will be warmer than average in the day, warnings are expected to be put in place (or increase in intensity in the south-east)..
It is likely warnings will only affect the south-west, south-east, and parts of central France / the Rhône valley, however.
In the north, although temperatures will be unseasonably high on Sunday, they will not remain significantly above average for long enough for warnings to be raised.
If warnings are raised, departments can enact local anti-heatwave plans, which can include checks on elderly and vulnerable residents, opening public swimming pools and beaches for longer, and extra care for people in Ehpads (elderly residential homes).
