What to expect for Easter weekend weather in France
It's possible you might have to schedule your Easter egg hunt indoors this year, as France looks ahead to a holiday weekend of unpredictable weather, with showers, storms and some bits of sun.
READ MORE:
Shops, tourist sites, travel: What's open and closed in France over Easter
Here is what to expect in terms of weather for Easter weekend in France;
Thursday and Friday
In the middle of the week Storm Hans swept into south-east France from Italy, bringing warnings of strong winds and a month's worth of rain – turning to heavy snow at higher altitudes – from Wednesday into Thursday along the eastern edge of the country, particularly in Alpine regions and Corsica.
'Remarkable avalanche activity' was also predicted in the Haute-Maurienne and Haute-Tarentaise mountain ranges, forecasters said.
Advertisement
After Hans has finished passing through France on Friday, forecasters expect there to be some respite for residents in the south-east of the country, as Spring sunshine briefly returns.
As for people in western France, a new low pressure system is due to arrive on Friday, bringing more wind, rain and thunderstorms – particularly in the southwest, before sweeping up to the Paris region.
READ MORE:
The best Easter activities in France for families
Saturday
Friday's weather front ought to stretch from northwest France to the Mediterranean on Saturday, bringing, according to national forecaster Météo France: 'a strong southerly wind in the lower Rhône Valley, heavy rain around the Cévennes and occasional thunderstorms between the south-west and the Massif Central.'
North-eastern areas are expected to get the best of the weather, with some sunny spells and mild temperatures to go with their
extra public holiday
.
In the north, temperatures are forecast to range from 5C to 12C in the morning, while those living in the south can expect to see between 6C and 15C – rising to afternoon maximums of around 19C in Lyon, 15C in Rennes, Nantes, Amiens, and Perpignan, 18C in Paris, Strasbourg, and Marseille, and up to 20C in Ajaccio.
Sunday
Unstable conditions may continue into Sunday and Monday, with further rain forecast to reach France from the Atlantic, and strong winds expected.
Advertisement
Rain is again forecast in the southern half of France, with the possibility of thunderstorms in the south-east, particularly Corsica, La Chaîne Météo told
BFMTV
.
As for northern France, forecasters have predicted clouds and occasional sunny spells.
Météo France forecasts maximum temperatures of 14C in Paris, Bordeaux, and Biarritz, 13C in Brest, Rennes, and La Rochelle, and up to 17C in Marseille.
READ MORE:
MAPS: Where will traffic be heaviest in France this Easter weekend?
Monday
As for Easter Monday: 'The risk of showers or rain will mainly affect the southwest and the east coast, extending to the Mediterranean,' La Chaîne Météo said, adding, 'there could be some nice sunny spells in the northern half of the country.'
The mercury is expected to rise up to 19C in the south, particularly in Perpignan, and 18C in Ajaccio and Marseille, and 16C in Rouen, Paris, and Strasbourg.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Euronews
12 hours ago
- Euronews
Dozens evacuated in Switzerland's Valais canton following mudslide
Around 30 people were evacuated from their homes in the upper Val de Bagnes in canton Valais in Switzerland after heavy rainfall unleashed a major mudslide. Residents of the village of Les Epenays will be "housed elsewhere for an indefinite period. It depends on nature, it makes the laws," Antoine Schaller, deputy secretary general of the municipality of Val de Bagnes, told local news. The area saw heavy storms last week, after which mud, wood and large stones tore away the temporary emergency bridge in the upper Val de Bagnes, but residents said buildings were spared. "The concern is the volumes coming down. And then there's the detachment zone in the mountain, where an entire section is moving at a rate of about two meters per day," said Pierre-Martin Moulin, General Secretary of Val de Bagnes. It comes just over a week after a landslide cause by a glacier collapse buried most of the Swiss village of Blatten, renewing attention on the increasing dangers of global warming. On 29 May, a large chunk of the Birch Glacier above the village had broken off, causing the landslide which also buried the nearby Lonza River bed, raising the possibility of dammed water flows. Swiss glaciologists have repeatedly expressed concerns about a thaw in recent years, attributed in large part to global warming, that has accelerated the retreat of glaciers in Switzerland. The landlocked Alpine country has the most glaciers of any country in Europe, and saw 4% of its total glacier volume disappear in 2023. That was the second-biggest decline in a single year after a 6% drop in 2022. In 2023, residents of the village of Brienz, in eastern Switzerland, were evacuated before a huge mass of rock slid down a mountainside, stopping just short of the community. Brienz was evacuated again last year because of the threat of a further rockslide. Frederick Forsyth, the British author of "The Day of the Jackal" and other bestselling thrillers, has died at the age of 86 after a brief illness, his literary agent said on Monday. Jonathan Lloyd, his agent, said Forsyth died at home early Monday surrounded by his family. "We mourn the passing of one of the world's greatest thriller writers," Lloyd said. Born in Kent in 1938, Forsyth served as a Royal Air Force pilot before becoming a foreign correspondent. He covered the attempted assassination of French President Charles de Gaulle in 1962, which provided inspiration for "The Day of the Jackal," his bestselling political thriller about a professional assassin. Published in 1971, the book propelled him into global fame. It was made into a film in 1973 starring Edward Fox as the Jackal and more recently a television series starring Eddie Redmayne and Lashana Lynch. In 2015, Forsyth told the BBC that he had also worked for the British intelligence agency MI6 for many years, starting from when he covered a civil war in Nigeria in the 1960s. Although Forsyth said he did other jobs for the agency, he said he was not paid for his services and "it was hard to say no" to officials seeking information. "The zeitgeist was different," he told the BBC. "The Cold War was very much on." He wrote more than 25 books including "The Afghan," "The Kill List," and "The Dogs of War" that sold over 75 million copies, Lloyd said. His publisher, Bill Scott-Kerr, said that "Revenge of Odessa," a sequel to the 1974 book "The Odessa File" that Forsyth worked on with fellow thriller author Tony Kent, will be published in August. "Still read by millions across the world, Freddie's thrillers define the genre and are still the benchmark to which contemporary writers aspire," Scott-Kerr said.
Euronews
5 days ago
- Euronews
Canary Islands brace for summer wildfires amid tourist surge
As millions of holidaymakers prepare to head to the Canary Islands this summer, authorities have issued a wildfire pre-alert across the archipelago. The warning, announced by the General Directorate of Emergencies on Sunday, applies to tourist hotspots El Hierro, La Palma, La Gomera, Tenerife and Gran Canaria. It comes as the islands enter a high-risk fire period following the wet season, as hot, dry winds known as the 'calima' begin blowing in from the Sahara Desert. The risk of wildfire is nothing new for the Canary Islands. The volcanic terrain, Mediterranean climate and fire-adapted vegetation - plants that have evolved to thrive in fire-prone environments - make them susceptible to summer blazes, and scientists say wildfires are part of the archipelago's ecological rhythm. Some of the worst occurred in 2023, when forest fires ravaged Tenerife, destroying more than 15,000 hectares of land and forcing 12,000 people to evacuate. The blaze was later found to have been started by arsonists. This year, officials are urging tourists and locals alike to take extreme caution, warning against launching fireworks near forests and discarding cigarettes on dry ground. But even as the fire warnings roll in, the Canaries' appeal shows no signs of slowing down. In 2024, the islands welcomed nearly 18 million tourists, including a record-breaking 15.5 million international arrivals. Among them, British travellers led the way, recording 6.3 million visits – up 500,000 from 2023. While the Canary Islands continue to attract record numbers of tourists, residents are increasingly voicing concerns about overtourism. In April 2024, tens of thousands of islanders participated in protests, holding signs that read 'the Canary Islands have a limit' while rallying against rising housing costs, environmental damage and the strain on public services. Over Easter this year, about 80,000 hospitality workers in Tenerife, La Palma, La Gomera and El Hierrowalked out in a dispute with unions over pay. The surge in short-term rentals has been especially contentious. Locals have reported getting priced out of their neighbourhoods as properties are converted into holiday lets, the cost of living soars and wages stagnate. Despite these concerns, tourism remains a significant part of the Canary Islands' economy, accounting for approximately 35 per cent of its GDP. After welcoming seven million tourists in 2024, Tenerife remains the most visited island. Its year-round sunshine and wide beaches keep it a firm favourite among families, especially during the UK's summer school break and throughout the winter months. As the peak summer season picks up, local tourism boards have made no indication that the fire pre-alerts will disrupt travel plans. But authorities remain focused on prevention this year. More than 2,000 firefighters are on standby. Meanwhile, the government has distributed detailed safety advice, urging people to prepare a go-bag, stay informed and follow emergency evacuation or shelter-in-place instructions if fires erupt. More than 1.5 million foreign pilgrims are in Saudi Arabia for this year's Hajj. The five-day rite that every Muslim must perform once in their lifetime is an awe-inspiring spiritual experience. But it is also physically gruelling. Pilgrims walk for hours and wait in huge crowds around holy sites and the surrounding desert. The country has spent billions of dollars on crowd control and safety measures, but one of the greatest challenges at the Hajj in recent years has been the heat. Pilgrims are currently gathering at Mount Arafat amid temperatures nudging 40 degrees Celsius - which are expected to reach as high as 45C in the coming days. After 1,300 people died from extreme heat and overcrowding last year, Saudi Arabia has installed over 400 cooling units and curbed unregistered pilgrims. If you're planning on joining the Hajj pilgrimage for the first time, packing the right clothing and useful items is essential. To be prepared both for the religious regulations and the practical challenges, here are what veteran hajjis - as those who have completed the pilgrimage are known - recommend packing. The annual pilgrimage to Mecca, the holiest city for Muslims, can often fall during one of the hottest periods of the year. The rite, which began on 4 June this year, will see pilgrims navigating desert climates of over 40 degrees Celsius during the day. The majority of rituals take place outdoors in the desert, including climbing the Mount of Mercy and stoning the Jamarat, a row of pillars representing the devil. To avoid heatstroke, sun hats are key. Pilgrims often opt for wide-brimmed straw hats or even cowboy hats. Alternatively, many bring umbrellas or balance their prayer mats on their heads. All men are required to wear simple white robes without any stitching, a rule aimed at uniting rich and poor. Women must cover their hair but have more freedom to wear fabrics from their native countries, resulting in a colourful display of Islam's multiculturalism. When it comes to footwear, it's best to wear something that's durable for the long walks but that also slips on and off easily, as pilgrims must remove their shoes before entering Mecca's Grand Mosque. Sandals are sensible, but some pilgrims say it's best also to wear socks as the mosque's marble floor can be surprisingly cold as they walk around the Kaaba seven times. A daypack of some kind is essential for carrying food, water, sunscreen and toiletries. But backpacks can be a hassle when you're crammed shoulder-to-shoulder. Far more popular are cross-body bags that you can access without turning around. Many pilgrims also carry a separate drawstring bag or pouch for their shoes. Usually at mosques, you can leave your shoes with an attendant at the entrance. But with hundreds of thousands of people flocking to the Grand Mosque, it's easy to lose your shoes and spend a long time trying to locate them. Some pilgrims, like Umaima Hafez, a five-time hajjah from Egypt, pack a portable plastic stool. It fits in her bag and makes the hours-long waits more manageable. When it comes to toiletries, make sure you bring only those that are fragrance-free to comply with the prohibition on perfume. With holy sites spread over a distance of more than 16 kilometres, pilgrims may also need to camp out in the desert. It could mean staying somewhere like Mina - one of the world's largest tent camps. There are places you can purchase camping equipment in Mecca. Supermarkets often sell essentials like lightweight tents, sleeping mats and collapsible water pouches. For food, it's sensible to bring anything that can be consumed easily on the move and doesn't need refrigeration or utensils, such as dried fruit, nuts, biscuits and crisps.
Fashion Network
5 days ago
- Fashion Network
May footfall fell flat but June looks promising, says MRI Software
After a busy Easter/good-weather-fuelled April lifting spring, retail footfall was much more sedate in May. Last month, retail footfall fell marginally, by 0.4%, compared to a year ago in all UK retail destinations, according to MRI Software's latest data. The dip was driven by a 1.1% fall in high street activity, but at least shopping centres and retail parks bucked the trend with marginal rises of 0.2% and 0.5%, respectively. Month on month, footfall also dipped (-0.1%) in all UK retail destinations. And it may have been worse had it not been for the schools' half-term holiday at the end of the month 'driving an influx of visitors to retail stores and destinations', noted the report. Weekend footfall also fell for the second consecutive month, by 1.8% overall compared to 2024 levels. However, weekday footfall in May rose slightly (+0.3%) compared to last year 'which continues to support the changes in consumer behaviour; as the return to office remains strong, it may suggest that people are also visiting retail stores and destinations on the days they go into the office'. This is further reinforced by MRI Software's 'Central London Back to Office ' benchmark that recorded a 2.4% uplift in weekday activity. The slight rise last month in shopping centres and retail parks was 'further evidence that consumers are likely more drawn towards the convenience factor of all-in-one destinations that offer more than just retail'. Larger shopping centres (over 500,000 sq ft) benefitted greatly from the half-term boost, recording an 8.4% increase in footfall from the week prior, 'and again indicates the attraction of retail destinations that offer leisure, hospitality and retail under one roof'. Info from MRI Software's 'Insights from the Inside' also saw 61.2% of retailers reporting lower sales during the early May bank holiday compared to last year, with 65.8% expecting softer trading through the half-term break. Also, rising operational costs are beginning to bite, 'and the knock-on effect is being felt at the till as higher prices are passed on to consumers, adding to the ongoing cost-of-living pressures' it said. And the forecast for June? With a packed calendar of music and sporting events, including Beyoncé's visit to London and the return of Wimbledon tennis, 'UK cities are expected to see substantial footfall surges if historical trends are anything to go by'. It added: 'Retail leaders are encouraged to analyse last summer's trends and ensure they are operationally ready to maximise this opportunity. As consumer habits continue to shift towards retail destinations that offer more than just shopping – a blend of retail with food, entertainment and experience may well remain front of mind for families. 'The challenge now is to sustain that momentum from the May half-term holiday into June and beyond.'
