Weather in France July 1 – July 5: Forecast by area this week

A mixture of clouds and rain is in store for much of France this week, as cold winds from the British Isles dominate the skies, particularly for the first half.

There is little risk of a repeat of last week’s stormy weather however, and temperatures should rise close to summer levels by the end of the week due to incoming warm winds from the Atlantic. 

These two wind patterns will do battle over France in the latter half of the week, but their calmer nature means storms are unlikely despite an increased risk of showers.

Starting from Monday (July 1), clouds will form over the north, particularly in Normandy and along the Brittany coastline, as the British winds move south.

One department, Haute-Marne, is facing a tier-three orange warning for river flooding after heavy storms over the weekend.

In the south, the ‘Mistral’ wind will reach up to 70km/h, and in the south-west, showers are likely. 

It is only along the Mediterranean coastline where temperatures are likely to remain summer-like, reaching up to 28C in Marseille and 30C in Montpellier. 

Elsewhere, most areas of France will not see temperatures higher than 20C, with the exception of Paris and central France.

Similar weather is expected on Tuesday (July 2), with temperatures remaining much the same, and showers across the north. 

Rain will subside on Wednesday (July 3) as an anticyclonic wind from the Azores moves inland from the Atlantic. 

It will push away rain clouds towards the east, however will do little to change temperatures, which may drop to below 20C across the north. Areas close to the German border may only see highs of 15C, as rain continues throughout the day. 

Temperatures to increase in latter half of the week

These two competing winds will cause a clearer distinction between weather in the north and south on Thursday (July 4), with temperatures south of Bordeaux and Lyon generally higher. Temperatures of 30C along the Mediterranean coast are likely, and skies should be clear. 

Read more: What are the different heatwave warnings in France?

In the north, however, temperatures will hover around 20C and showers are expected. 

The battle between the two wind patterns is likely to be over by Friday (July 5), with the warmer Atlantic winds coming out victorious, and pushing the cooler British winds back over the English Channel. 

It will result in higher temperatures across France – 20C or higher across the board, rising to 25C or more in the south – and rain is only expected in Normandy. 

Early predictions are for these temperatures to remain in place over the weekend, although storms in the Rhône valley are expected on Saturday (July 6), as well as rain in the south-west and north.