Temperatures rise before storms and rain: weekly French weather outlook March 17 - 21

The arrival of spring on March 20 (the spring solstice) will usher in a rise in temperatures across France.

At the same time however, several varying weather patterns will cover the country this week, leading to several shifts in conditions particularly in the south.

Consistent rain is expected in parts of Occitanie.

Monday March 17 

The week begins calmly, with no rain forecast and clear skies in most areas – only Brittany, Normandy, and parts of eastern France will see significant cloud coverage. 

Despite the calm weather, several areas in the north, east, and centre face morning frosts, with drivers being warned over snowy/icy road conditions. 

Heightened warnings are however not in place.

Temperatures will be around 3C cooler than seasonal averages – in part due to the remnants of cool winds from the weekend – however in sunny places will feel slightly warmer. 

Highs of 10C/12C in the north and 12C/14C in the south are forecast. 

Tuesday March 18 

Calm conditions will continue for most on Tuesday, with the sun dominant in the skies everywhere except the western coast and Pyrénées.

Showers are possible along the western Mediterranean coast, although unlikely to be severe. 

Strong winds in the south-west may reach up to 90km/h, and potentially 100km/h throughout the rest of the week. 

Temperatures will jump from the previous day, with highs of 13C in the north and 16C in the south, possibly 19C In the Pyrénées and Corsica. 

Wednesday March 19 

Cloud coverage will push east across the country, although it is unlikely to bring rain in the north and centre.

In most areas these clouds will not dominate skies but mix with the sun. 

The Mediterranean will be worse off, with grey skies across the western and central belt of the coast and potentially rain around Montpellier. 

Winds in the south-west will remain strong, again reaching up to 90 km/h. 

Temperatures will again rise, reaching a national average of over 11C – higher than seasonal norms. 

Highs of around 15C in the north, and 17C - 20C in the south are expected, reaching up to 21C in Biarritz. 

Thursday March 20

Clouds will return to the western coast, heavier and greyer than at the beginning of the week – an ominous hint of incoming stormy weather.

This will also be the case along the Pyrénées, which will see dark clouds cover the mountain range, particularly the western half.

Elsewhere conditions will be almost parallel to Wednesday – a mix of cloud and sun in the north and centre, and around Montpellier and the Mediterranean coastline, and strong winds around Toulouse. 

Temperatures will remain the same, although are unlikely to break 20C in the south, and may be slightly warmer in the east than the day before. 

Friday March 21 

This generally calm period will come to an end on Friday, as Atlantic storms push away the high-pressure winds, not just in France but across the continent. 

The western coast is likely to face showers throughout the day, with the Mediterranean from Perpignan to Nice facing heavy rain and potentially thunderstorms alongside strong winds. 

Around 170mm of rain is expected to fall in parts of the south throughout the week. 

Eastern areas of France will see a calm day, although by the evening thunderstorms from the western coast will reach the eastern borders. 

Temperatures will remain unaffected by the conditions, however, although in the south strong winds will make conditions feel chillier. 

Despite further storms expected across the weekend, temperatures will remain above seasonal averages.