The weather is set to deteriorate significantly across much of France this Monday. Seven departments have been placed under orange alert for thunderstorms starting at 16 p.m. These departments are Ariège, Haute-Garonne, Tarn, Tarn-et-Garonne, Lot, Corrèze, and Dordogne. The expected weather events could be particularly intense, with heavy rain, strong gusts of wind, and potentially significant hail. The most active storm cells are expected to develop between the Pyrenees, the Limousin region, and the Massif Central before moving towards other areas.
Two waves of storms will cross the country
A first wave of thunderstorms is expected to affect central France, the Île-de-France region, and parts of the northeast. A second, more intense, weather system will develop over the Pyrenees before moving up the plains of southwestern France, the Limousin region, and then the Massif Central. Other unstable areas may also form over the eastern mountains, particularly in the Jura and Haute-Savoie regions. Heavy rainfall, violent gusts of wind, and hail are possible during these storms. Between mid-afternoon and evening, some slow-moving storm cells could produce significant rainfall accumulations in a very short period.
Twenty departments still under orange alert for the heatwave
Meanwhile, twenty departments remain under orange alert due to the heat. Temperatures will continue to rise across much of the country. From the northern borders to the Île-de-France region, including Normandy, Centre-Val de Loire, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, and Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, highs will frequently reach 32 to 36°C, with local peaks of 37 to 38°C in the shade. In the rest of the country, temperatures will generally range between 29 and 33°C. The Channel and Atlantic coasts will remain somewhat cooler, with highs between 24 and 29°C.
Gusts of wind before the arrival of the storms
Before the storms develop, a south to southeast wind will blow in gusts of 40 to 50 km/h across the Mediterranean regions, the Rhône Valley, and the Autan area. This combination of intense heat, humidity, and wind will favor the development of thunderstorms, some of which may be highly organized, during the afternoon and evening.
A day under high vigilance
Monday promises to be a day of stark contrasts. While parts of the country will continue to experience stifling heat, several regions will also face a high risk of severe thunderstorms, which could bring hail, torrential rain, and strong winds in a short period of time. Authorities are urging residents of the affected areas to closely monitor the situation and exercise extreme caution.
