After a slight drop, temperatures are expected to rise again on Sunday.
Soon a fourth wave of heat or a simple respite in the heart of the third heat wave of the summer? After a cooling in certain regions, Météo-France forecasts further temperature increases from Sunday and a worsening of the dryness of the soil despite the storms.
“After a cooling by the north-west of the country this weekend, the temperatures start to rise again on Sunday in the south-west and reach the northern half on Monday”, announced Météo-France on Friday evening.
Read also: Drought in France: more than 100 municipalities without drinking water
On Sunday, “we expect 33°C to 35°C in the south-west, while temperatures remain stationary or are slightly down in the Mediterranean regions”, specifies the situation update.
“On Monday, the rise in temperatures continues and reaches the northern half: we expect 35°C to 37°C from the southwest to the southeast, and 30°C to 34°C further north, except for a small quarter northwest which remains below 30°C”, according to Météo-France. “Maximum temperatures between 32°C and 36°C could most likely be sustained over much of the country.”
For the time being, “there remains uncertainty” as to whether these developments should be considered as an “interruption” of the “third heat wave of the summer”, which began on July 31, explains the meteorological service: “Nationally, it could end at the start of the weekend thanks to a drop in temperatures over three quarters of the country or continue”.
However, the weekend thunderstorms will not be enough to make up for the historic rain deficit nationwide in July, the second driest month of the year since the first records.
“At the national level, since July 17, France has set a new record for soil drought every day (on a history that begins in August 1958)”, notes Météo-France. In Corsica, this daily record has even been beaten every day since the beginning of July and since mid-May in PACA.
“This situation constitutes a major event comparable to the droughts of 1976 and 2003”, underline the meteorologists. “By the middle of August, it is very likely that this dry soil situation will get even worse in a large number of regions.”