The heatwave is beginning to ease from the west, but the relief will arrive slowly and many areas will still face a punishing night. At the same time, storms are set to intensify from the Massif Central toward the Centre-East, bringing hail, torrential rain, and violent gusts.
According to actualite.lachainemeteo.com, Wednesday 15 July marks a sharp weather contrast across France, with lingering tropical nights, extreme daytime heat, and an unstable atmosphere that will fuel severe thunderstorms. The broader cooling trend will spread later in the week, but the south-east remains exposed to very high temperatures and elevated fire risk.
Heat Still Holding On Across Much of the Country
Wednesday morning already showed how difficult the night had been in several cities. Temperatures stayed close to 23°C in Lyon and Toulouse, reached 24°C in Paris, and were still 22.9°C at 7 a.m. in Orly.
During the day, the heat remains intense from the South-West to Auvergne, where values are expected to reach 35°C to 40°C. Elsewhere, most regions will still see 33°C to 37°C, while the Channel coast should remain more comfortable at 23°C to 28°C.
| Area | Expected Temperatures | Weather Character |
|---|---|---|
| South-West to Auvergne | 35°C to 40°C | Canicular heat |
| Most other regions | 33°C to 37°C | Very hot |
| Channel coast | 23°C to 28°C | More bearable |
Storms Build From the Massif Central to the Centre-East
Thunderstorms that were already active in the morning between Limousin and Charentes are shifting toward the Massif Central and then the Centre-East. They may bring hail, intense rainfall, and gusts reaching 70 km/h to 100 km/h locally.
The most active cells should weaken gradually in the evening as they move toward the eastern borders. Even so, additional heavy and rainy storms remain possible in inland Brittany and in the north of Pays de la Loire.
What Changes by Thursday and Friday
On Thursday, the degradation will spread from the south-west to the north-east, with a still hot and heavy atmosphere. The heatwave will continue mainly from the south-west to the east, where temperatures can still reach 36°C to 39°C.
By Friday, storms should progressively end the heatwave across most of the country, and a broader temperature drop will finally set in. The south-east will be the main exception, with another round of very strong heat and values still around 35°C to 38°C near the Mediterranean.
A Risk That Does Not Disappear Everywhere
The west will benefit first from the incoming oceanic air, but the change will not be immediate enough to spare the country from another difficult night. Dry conditions will also keep the wildfire risk high in the south-east as the intense heat lingers.