Temperatures will reach 40 degrees in some areas. This week is set to be extremely hot in France, which is expected to experience the earliest heatwave since weather records began.
According to our colleagues at BFMTV, over the next few days, several heat records are expected across the country, with some models forecasting temperatures of over 40°C on Friday in the Pays de la Loire, Centre-Val de Loire and Nouvelle-Aquitaine regions. However, this heatwave is expected to be slightly less intense than the one at the end of June 2019, which occurred two weeks later.
In detail and in chronological order, the heatwave is expected to begin as early as this Tuesday, with temperatures reaching 35 to 37°C in the south-west. On Wednesday, temperatures will continue to rise in this region, as well as in the Rhône Valley, where temperatures ranging from 36 to 38 degrees are expected.
Temperatures reaching 40°C from Thursday
Thursday is set to mark a turning point, as temperatures could reach 40°C for the first time in the south of France. Friday is set to be a historic day in the west of the country, with maximum temperatures of 40°C in the Pays de la Loire, Poitou-Charentes, Aquitaine and Midi-Pyrénées regions.
Some models are forecasting maximum temperatures of 42°C, but these figures will need to be refined in the coming hours. The spell of hot weather is expected to come to an end on Sunday, or possibly Monday, with the arrival of thunderstorms.
No heat dome
From a meteorological point of view, it is possible to refer to a heatwave, as the ‘threshold’ temperatures will be reached both during the day and at night for at least three consecutive days.
In Paris, this threshold is set at 21°C at night and 31°C during the day (the thresholds are lower as it is a large urban area), and in Gironde, 21°C at night and 35°C during the day. Given the forecasts, these temperatures will be reached by a wide margin and heat warnings are likely to be issued. However, current forecasts do not suggest that a heat dome is on the cards.