Friday is set to be the hottest and sunniest day of the week in France, with numerous towns predicted to see temperatures of 30C or above, rising to 35C in the south west.
As a high-pressure system returns, temperatures are forecast to climb 8 to 12C above seasonal norms in France, bringing back sunny weather and hot temperatures across the country.
In southwestern France, Météo France predicts that temperatures will be the highest in the country, and in Nouvelle-Aquitaine they will exceed heatwave thresholds.
The town of Dax, south west France, is predicted to reach the highest temperature with a 35C forecast for Friday. Following closely behind will be Mont-de-Marsan and Biarritz, with a maximum of 34C during the day. In Bordeaux, temperatures are expected to reach 33C, and in Toulouse 32C.
But the heat won’t be limited to the south – temperatures are predicted to reach 28-30C in northern cities including Paris, Rennes and Strasbourg – well above seasonal norms.
Mild weather is likely to continue throughout the weekend, but temperatures are expected to drop slightly, with the potential return of thunderstorms across the country.