Sand dust, heat and thunderstorms. Here is your program for the weekend, according to the latest forecasts from La Chaîne Météo. After a week marked by temperature records and thunderstorms, the weather should calm down in the north of the country with the return of good weather.
”A new breath of boiling air will envelop the southern regions, from Aquitaine to Provence. This heat will be exceptional for the month of May, and new records could be reached, or even beaten”, continues the site specializing in meteorology.
On the mercury side, highs of 30 to 36°C are expected in the south of the country, and 20 to 28°C in the north.
A trend that should continue on Sunday, where a “blazing sun” could cause scorching temperatures in the southern half of France.
“During the afternoon, it will be necessary to be wary of the storms which will burst in the west as well as in the mountains, on the Pyrenees and the central massif. This new deterioration could be violent”, however warns the forecaster.
Temperatures could reach 30°C in the north and up to 35°C in the south.
In addition, sand dust from the Sahara will return to France this Friday, May 17 around 5 p.m., according to the Copernicus satellites, the European Union’s Earth observation program.
These winds loaded with sand should arrive from the south-west of France to go up in Gironde, progress towards the east and the center and play with the limits of the Ile-de-France region, as indicated by Le Parisien. This event, combined with the heat wave, will considerably reduce air quality in places. Discover the state of play in your region in the slideshow below.
While an exceptional heat wave hit France during the month of May, the sand of the Sahara contributes to the deterioration of air quality. Legitimately, questions arise about this unprecedented event, which remains closely observed by meteorologists and scientists. Indeed, this dust declined from yellow to orange contains particles potentially toxic to health, capable of causing pulmonary and cardiovascular reactions.
To protect against its effects, specialists recommend avoiding outdoor physical activities as much as possible in affected areas. Doctor Claude-Alexandre Gustave believes, for his part, that the particles are worrying for people already suffering from respiratory pathologies. If the Institute for Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety (IRSN) wants to be reassuring about the “negligible” rate of radioactive particles, people at risk, such as pregnant women, infants or even seniors, must remain cautious. It is therefore strongly advised to wear a surgical mask to better protect yourself and to limit your movements in busy road spaces.
