Weather. After an early heatwave, thunderstorms and cooler weather set in.

No sooner had they left the house than they were put away! Summer clothes can be temporarily put back in the closet: the early heatwave that hit France midweek was as short as it was intense.

This weekend, severe storms will hit France, accompanied by a sharp drop in temperatures. The north of the country, which on May ^1st was experiencing temperatures worthy of June or July—up to 28.5°C in Lille, 29.4°C in Paris, and 29.6°C in Strasbourg—will lose between 10 and 15 degrees in 48 hours, according to Météo France.

Starting this Friday evening, the first thunderstorms will appear in the southwest, before gradually spreading across the country. On Saturday afternoon, they are expected in Tarbes, Aurillac, Vichy, Chalon-sur-Saône, as well as Paris and Alençon. In the northeast, Chaumont, Reims, and Metz will be subject to thunderstorms.

"The weather will reach its peak on Sunday. Thunderstorms will affect most of the country. These storms could be accompanied by hail, particularly in the Center East and near the Alps, heavy rain, and violent gusts," warns La Chaîne Météo. As for temperatures, they will plummet, making dining outdoors difficult!

It's a rather cool week for the season ahead. Monday's highs will be close to Friday's lows. Temperatures will range from 12°C (Cherbourg) to 20°C (Nice), with 14°C in Strasbourg, 13°C in Lyon, and 11°C in Belfort. The sky will be cloudy with some clear spells, except for the southeastern flank where showers are possible in Savoie and Haute-Savoie.

The rest of the week will be cloudy overall, with rain expected, particularly in the southeastern quarter of the country on Tuesday and Wednesday. While temperatures may rise slightly next Thursday, rain is still expected for most French people.