As summer holidays draw to a close, millions of French students are preparing to head back to the classroom on Tuesday, September 1. The good news for this rentrée is that the weather is expected to be largely cooperative across most of the country, though a significant warm-up is on the horizon.
The week will begin with a rainy Monday across the northern half of France, but this disturbance is expected to move away quickly. By Tuesday, students can look forward to a mix of sunny spells and cloudy periods, creating pleasant conditions for the return to school.
Mild Temperatures for the First Day Back
Tuesday’s temperatures will be mild and comfortable. In the afternoon, Lille and Brest can expect highs around 20°C, while Paris and Rennes will see 23°C. Further south, Lyon and Bordeaux will enjoy 27°C, and Toulouse could reach a warm 29°C.
However, the mercury is set to climb significantly in the second half of the week as a high-pressure system settles over the country.
A “Heat Spike” Looms, But Not a Heatwave
Meteorologist Guillaume Séchet warned on BFMTV that the “famous heat dome that has affected us almost all summer is expected to return.” He predicts that from Thursday, temperatures will already be quite high in the south, with Friday seeing over 30°C across the entire southern half of the country and up to 35°C in the Midi region.
The heat is expected to intensify further over the weekend. Séchet forecasts “30 degrees expected over three-quarters of France” on Saturday, with a possible “peak of 40 degrees in the southwest,” which would be unprecedented for September.
La Chaîne Météo confirms this hot scenario, stating that from Thursday, much warmer air will move up from the Iberian Peninsula and North Africa. Maximum temperatures of 32 to 35°C are expected in the southwest by the end of the week, particularly from Aquitaine to Occitanie.
While a new “coup de chaud” (heat spike) is on the way, forecasters remain cautious about the risk of an official heatwave. According to La Chaîne Météo, conditions are not expected to align for a new, prolonged canicule to settle over the country.
An Exceptionally Hot Summer
France has already endured an exceptionally hot summer. Since late May, successive heatwaves have brought temperatures often near or above 40°C. The most recent one ended on August 21, tying the record for the longest heatwave ever recorded in the country at 23 consecutive days, matching the previous record set in 1983.
