Traffic jams and sunshine: What to expect in France over Pentecost weekend

A heat dome over France will raise temperatures 10C to 15C above seasonal norms during the Pentecost long weekend. Southwestern regions including Nouvelle Aquitaine and Occitanie will exceed 30C and could reach up to 35C. Anticyclonic conditions are expected to continue, bringing mostly sunny, warm, and very hot weather across most of the country, with temperatures around 30C in the north. Minimum temperatures will rise, with Sunday night into Monday staying particularly mild in western areas and along the Atlantic coast, where temperatures may not drop below 20C. The early summer heatwave peak is expected between Monday and Wednesday, with average temperatures likely above 24C, a record for May. Friday is the main travel day, with Bison Futé issuing a nationwide red alert for difficult conditions on routes away from major cities toward popular resorts, and a yellow alert toward major cities.

"A 'heat dome' settled over France on Thursday, which will cause temperatures to spike between 10C and 15C above seasonal norms, according to forecasters at Météo France. On Thursday, temperatures in the southwestern Nouvelle Aquitaine and Occitanie regions broke through the 30C mark, and could reach as high as 35C over the long weekend."

"Anticyclonic conditions are expected to persist over the holiday period, bringing mostly sunny, warm, and even very hot weather to most of the country, with temperatures reaching 30C in the north. Minimum temperatures will also continue to rise. Sunday night into Monday is expected to be particularly mild in the west of the country, especially along the Atlantic coast, where the mercury may not fall much below 20C."

"The peak of the early summer heatwave is expected in the first part of next week, between Monday and Wednesday. Nationwide, the average temperature will likely exceed 24C, a record for the month."

"Roads watch Friday is the big travel day for the long weekend with many expected to make an early getaway, roads watchdog Bison Futé forecasts. It has issued a nationwide red travel alert - indicating very difficult conditions on the roads - for Friday for travel away from major cities and in the direction of popular resorts, and a yellow alert, indicating difficult road conditions, heading towards major cities."

Read at The Local France