South-west France braces for 35C heat before temperatures plunge midweek
France faces a sharp temperature swing this week, with exceptional heat reaching 35C in the south-west on Monday and Tuesday before plummeting by as much as 10C as cooler conditions arrive from Wednesday.
An Atlantic high-pressure anticyclone system that settled over France during the weekend will drive temperatures well above seasonal norms at the start of the week. The system brings descending air that warms as it falls, inhibiting cloud formation and creating dry, sunny conditions with light winds.
The south-west will see the most extreme heat, with Bordeaux area temperatures climbing to 35C on Tuesday. The western Mediterranean will reach 34C near Montpellier, while much of the centre experiences highs of 30C to 32C. Areas south of the Loire will consistently exceed 30C.
Northern regions will be comparatively cooler but still warm for mid-September, with Paris reaching 28C and areas around Nantes and Rennes seeing 29C. Even the north-east near the German border will experience 23C to 25C once morning clouds clear.
The national average temperature on Tuesday is forecast to reach 22.4C, only half a degree below the maximum recorded during the early September heatwave and approximately 5C above normal for this time of year. Typical mid-September temperatures in France range from 10C to 22C, with Paris normally seeing highs around 20C and southern regions around 24C.
Rapid cooling from Wednesday
The anticyclone will shift southward on Wednesday, allowing cooler air from the British Isles to sweep across France. Heavy grey clouds will advance from the English Channel, reaching the Mediterranean coast by afternoon, though they are not expected to bring significant rainfall.
Temperatures will drop sharply, falling approximately 5C in the north and east. The south-west will experience the most dramatic change, with temperatures plunging by nearly 10C in some areas, leaving highs of 24C to 25C. Only Montpellier is likely to maintain readings of 27C or above.
Chilly winds accompanying the cloud cover will add to the autumnal atmosphere. By Thursday, the national average temperature is forecast to be 16.7C, a drop of nearly 6C in just two days and the only day of the week expected to fall below seasonal norms.
Limited rainfall deepens drought concerns
Despite the cloud coverage, meaningful precipitation remains unlikely. Light showers may affect the Normandy and Hauts-de-France coast on Thursday without penetrating inland, while brief morning rain is possible across northern and central areas on Friday. Coastal south-west regions may see afternoon showers on Friday, but overall the dry spell will continue.
The lack of substantial rainfall is particularly concerning given France's worsening drought crisis. According to France's national geological survey (BRGM), 61 per cent of the country's water tables are below average for early September, with the south-west around Bordeaux particularly affected.
As of early September, 64,000 people in France remain without access to tap water and depend on tanker trucks or bottled water for daily needs. A further 6.4 million people are at risk of losing tap water access due to drought conditions.
The severity of the situation reflects a broader pattern established this year. France experienced its hottest summer on record in 2026, with an average temperature of 24C, which is 3.6C above normal and exceeds even the notorious 2003 summer. By July, Météo-France reported that soil-moisture levels had fallen to the driest level ever recorded for that date.
More than 85 per cent of France was under drought warning or alert conditions in mid-July, compared with around 65 per cent at the same time in 2025. As of late August, 77 departments were experiencing the highest level of water restrictions.
Early forecasts for the weekend suggest calm and sunny conditions will return, with temperatures rising slightly from midweek levels but without another burst of exceptional heat. The continuation of the dry spell means drought conditions are likely to persist into autumn.
