End of the heatwave in France: the big turning point expected this week

It was about time! After weeks and weeks of crushing and suffocating heat which put our bodies, our homes, our summer and our nerves to the test, the end of the tunnel is finally in sight. No more sweating, let's breathe, let's breathe: the heatwave is getting ready (finally!) to close on France, according to Météo-France.

It must be said that the situation had become difficult to bear after a fifth heat wave. This Monday again, the thermometer panicked in the south-east with very high temperatures: 38.8°C recorded in Cogolin, 37.3°C in Montpellier and even 37.2°C in Nîmes. With this intense heat, the danger of fire remains very high in these regions, even if storms brought some water from the Center-East to the Grand-Est and Corsica, underlines Météo-France.

A big turning point expected from Wednesday

This Tuesday offers a slight respite. The weather is calm over a large part of France with some rain along the Channel and a moderate wind in the South thanks to the mistral and the tramontane. The mercury even rises a little during the day and the night still promises to be far too hot around the Mediterranean.

The real turning point arrives this Wednesday. According to Météo-France, “the gradual arrival of a rainy front in the northwest” marks “a change in air mass”. In the north, temperatures will drop back below 30°C. On the other hand, the south will still retain its heat, with maximums rising to 37°C near the Mediterranean. In the rest of southern France, temperatures will be between 31 and 35°C. On the north side, they will remain below 30°C.

Temperatures below normal

Be careful on Thursday, it will be very humid: the meeting between the fresh air and the accumulated heat will cause new storms in the southern half. In the South-East, they could be locally very strong, accompanied by intense rain.

But the good news is that this deterioration will end the heat wave, according to the National Weather Service. At the end of the week, the cool weather will set in for good throughout France. Temperatures will even drop below seasonal norms. It’s a real event: such freshness has not happened since June 11! It’s time to open the windows wide and enjoy the weather. Don't take out the sweaters just yet.