France set for cooler weather as record May heatwave comes to an end
Temperatures across France are expected to fall this week as an exceptional early-summer heatwave comes to an end.
France is expected to see significantly cooler temperatures this week as a record-breaking heatwave that swept across much of Europe begins to ease.
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According to Météo-France, temperatures across most of the country will fall back to the mid-20s Celsius, with only parts of southern France, including Marseille and Perpignan, likely to remain above 30C on Sunday.
The change follows several days of exceptional heat that saw France record its hottest-ever May temperature of 37.8C in the Charente department.
The heatwave also brought transport disruption, power cuts and has been linked to several deaths in France and the UK.
Storms are forecast for parts of eastern France, including Strasbourg and Lyon, while showers and unsettled weather are expected to continue throughout the week.
Forecasters say temperatures in southern France could fall below 25C by the end of the week, bringing widespread relief after one of the most intense May heatwaves on record.
Despite the cooler spell, weather experts have warned that further extreme heatwaves are highly likely during the summer months.