South-west France set for 36C heat spike before dramatic weekend cooldown
Parts of France are expected to experience near-summer temperatures this week before storms and a sharp drop in temperatures arrive over the weekend.
Temperatures in south-west France are expected to soar to as high as 36C later this week, bringing almost midsummer conditions to parts of the country well ahead of schedule.
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Forecasters have revised their predictions upwards, with a stronger-than-expected high-pressure system pushing temperatures around 10 degrees above seasonal averages by Friday.
Areas near the Atlantic coast and the foothills of the Pyrenees are likely to see the hottest conditions, while cities including Toulouse and Lyon could reach 32C.
Even Brittany may see temperatures close to 30C, while much of France is forecast to remain above 25C under sunny skies.
The Riviera is expected to stay slightly cooler, at around 23C.
However, the heatwave may be short-lived. Meteorologists are warning of a possible “goutte froide” - a cold air mass moving across France - which could trigger storms, rain and a sharp drop in temperatures over the weekend.
In parts of the south-west, temperatures could plunge by nearly 15C between Friday and Saturday.
Biarritz, for example, is forecast to fall from around 36C to just 22C within 24 hours.
Météo France says the exact impact of the cold front remains uncertain, but residents and travellers are being advised to monitor forecasts closely as conditions may change rapidly heading into the weekend.