Three simultaneous phenomena: heat, wind, sand, we can say that it is a “weather whirlwind”. Vigilance: especially for wind and air quality.

Starting this Friday, a sweet treat with summer flavors is taking over the country. Temperatures are expected to peak on Saturday across much of the territory with 25-30°C in the South-West and up to 27-29°C locally in the northern half of the country. The heat nevertheless brings its share of problems. Desert dust could alter air quality across the country.

Peak temperatures Saturday. After an Easter weekend of gray and rain, the thermostat should rise this weekend. From this Friday, April 5, the days are expected to be hot, Météo-France informs. On Saturday, it should be up to 26°C in Paris and Alsace. “The 30°C mark could be reached locally in the South-West,” adds weather presenter Guillaume Séchet on X.

Weather that will make many French people want to enjoy terraces and parks. However, pay attention to the quality of the air, because this heat wave, coming from Morocco or Tunisia, brings with it dust from the sands of the Sahara. Clouds of sand could hamper the ambient air in a large part of the country, reports RTL. According to the World Health Organization, it is recommended not to be exposed to this dust, and therefore to avoid all outdoor activities, when its daily concentration exceeds 45 micrograms/m3. For the moment, meteorologists still do not know whether this stage will be exceeded on Saturday April 6 and Sunday April 7.

Furthermore, the wind will also be significant this weekend. Gusts could exceed 70 kilometers per hour in the Lyon region.

However, the heat will not be uniform across the country, since Brittany, Cotentin, the west of Pays de la Loire, and even the Gulf of Lion will experience more temperate temperatures.