Weather in France August 19 – August 23: Forecast by area this week

France is expected to face a mild and unassuming week of weather with only mild rain and the occasional light storm predicted. 

Temperatures and weather conditions will largely conform to late August averages.

The national average temperature will be cooler than usual for late August by around 1C. 

Monday August 19 

The week will begin with calm weather across the entire country, although storm warnings remain in place in Corsica, and may affect the coastline of the Alpes-Maritimes department, around Nice. 

In Brittany, Normandy, and around Paris, it will be cloudy but no rain is forecast. 

Temperatures will be in the low to mid 20s north of the Loire, rising up to 28C in Toulouse and the south-west, and 30C along the Mediterranean. 

However, the Mistral wind will blow up to 90 km/h, which may lead to increased forest fire warnings to remain in place. 

Tuesday August 20 

Conditions will remain much the same in the south, including in Corsica, where storms will continue.

In the north, particularly the Hauts-de-France, Normandy, and Brittany regions, rainfall is expected to move in from the English Channel in the morning. 

This will move progressively east and south, hitting Bordeaux and Dijon before stopping. 

Currently, only rain is forecast, but may turn into thunderstorms. Hail is not expected, however. 

As of 08:00 today, state forecaster Météo France has not placed any departments on a warning for the rain/storms. 

Wednesday August 21 

Tuesday’s rain will move to the Pyrénées and Rhine river, before being swept across these respective borders around midday.

The north will remain largely cloudy, with temperatures unlikely to rise much above 20C - 22C. Sunshine is expected south of the Loire.

It will be at least 25C in all southern regions, rising to around 30C in the Alpine areas and parts of the south-west. Highs of 33C or more could hit the Mediterranean. 

Read more: Storms in France: what to do if at home, out walking or in car

Thursday August 22 

Thursday is predicted to be the ‘nicest’ day of the week, with peak summer conditions for most. 

Coastal regions of northern Brittany, particularly around Brest, will see rainfall but elsewhere, sunshine is forecast. 

Temperatures will be particularly warm south of Lyon / Bordeaux, where it will be between 30C - 32C including in the Alps, and even higher along the Mediterranean coastline, and inland areas of Provence. 

In the north, temperatures will reach around 25C - 28C but should not climb above 30C.

Evening temperatures will remain warm in parts of the south, particularly around Nice and Marseille, however heatwave warnings are not expected.

Friday August 23 

Stormy weather originating in Ireland will hit Brittany, Normandy, and the west coast of France with rain early on Friday morning, before moving inland. 

Throughout the day, it will move as far as Reims/Paris/La Rochelle, but will not penetrate into central France. 

Despite the rain and potential for thunderstorms, temperatures will remain the same as on Thursday in these areas, perhaps even slightly higher. 

The south will be unaffected by the rain, and temperatures will largely remain the same as Thursday.

Friday is the only day of the week where the national average temperature is forecast to be higher (21.3C) than the usual late August average (around 20.8C). 

Early predictions for the weekend are that temperatures will climb slightly, leading to a warm and peaceful weekend, before a general drop in temperatures at the start of next week. 

Storms may hit the centre of France, particularly on Saturday (August 24).