Just as the nation absorbs the grim toll of June’s record-breaking heatwave, which caused at least 2,000 fatalities, a new and intense wave of scorching air is preparing to envelop France. The mercury is set to climb progressively from this weekend, Saturday, July 4th and Sunday, July 5th, 2026, before a powerful heat dome locks in place next week, pushing temperatures locally back towards the 40°C mark.
A Weekend Prelude to Extreme Heat
The thermal escalation begins on Saturday. According to Yann Amice, meteorologist and founder of Weather’n’co, temperatures will start their upward trajectory immediately, with an orange heat alert already activated for the south-east. The 30°C threshold will be breached across almost the entire country, with forecasts showing 36°C in Montpellier, 34°C in Bordeaux, and 31°C in Tours, Lyon, and Limoges.
“On Sunday, the heat begins to settle in,” Amice explained. The northern half of the country will see temperatures between 20°C and 30°C, while the south-west will bake in 34°C to 38°C heat. Locally, the Mediterranean basin could already hit 39°C. The will be exacerbated by the dying out of cooling winds, with both the Tramontane and Mistral expected to drop off by Sunday.
Météo France confirms the outlook, stating that maximum temperatures will exceed 30°C over a large part of the country, excluding Channel coast departments, while the south will often reach or surpass 35°C.
Monday Marks the First Fiery Peak
The true intensity arrives at the start of the new week. “We are expecting a first heat peak on Monday,” Amice confirmed. Temperatures will comfortably soar past 30°C nationwide. The most extreme heat will be concentrated from the South-West to the lower Rhône Valley, with the southern two-thirds of the country hitting or exceeding 35°C. Even further north, temperatures will hover between 31°C and 35°C.
A Second Assault: 40°C to Return Mid-Week
After Monday’s peak, a brief shift in the air flow to a north/north-easterly direction on Tuesday and Wednesday will provide a fleeting respite. However, this will be short-lived. “Around Wednesday or Thursday, temperatures will climb again. We will locally touch 40 degrees again,” Amice warned. This sets the stage for a second, potentially more severe peak, which is currently projected for the following weekend, between July 10th and 12th.
A slight, temporary dip in temperatures is possible around July 13th or 14th, possibly accompanied by stormy zones. However, meteorologists do not foresee a definitive end to the oppressive heat. “The slightly cooler air arriving around July 15th-16th is not sufficient to break down the heat dome,” Amice stated. “We are set for a hot block that seems to be well anchored for the month of July.”
This prolonged episode appears destined to extend until at least mid-July, directly following a June heatwave that already persisted for a punishing 14 days.
