Météo-France: Lifting of heatwave orange vigilance for 19 departments, improvement expected on Sunday

Météo-France lifted the heatwave orange vigilance on Saturday in 19 departments on the western coast as well as in the Alps and plans to do the same on Sunday in the majority of the 64 departments still affected. The drop in temperatures that began since the Thursday-Friday peak should, however, be accompanied by thunderstorms in the southwest, the forecaster warned in his 6 a.m. bulletin.

The “heatwave” vigilance has returned to yellow or green, particularly along the Channel in Normandy, on the Atlantic coast from Deux-Sèvres and Charentes to the Pyrénées-Atlantiques, and in the two departments of the Southern Alps (Hautes-Alpes and Alpes-de-Haute-Provence), the organization indicated.

“In the afternoon, it will continue to be hot but at more reasonable levels, with temperatures between 30 and 34°C,” explained Météo-France. If “a drop in temperatures is expected gradually in the western half of the country on Saturday”, heatwave conditions continue “in an eastern part of the country including the Paris region, with most often 35 to 39°C, or even locally 40°C in the middle of the afternoon”.

Clear improvement expected on Sunday

Météo-France plans to lift orange vigilance in 36 additional departments on Sunday at 6 a.m., notably those in the Paris region. The intense heat will continue “at least until the beginning of the week” in the southeast quarter, the forecaster said. The organization also warned of stormy developments “expected in the southwest from the end of Saturday afternoon”, which “could require switching to orange “thunderstorms” alert with wind gusts reaching 90 km/h”. Météo-France predicts a drop in heat on Sunday, with temperatures “between 28 and 34°C in most regions”.