France faces hot, dry summer while Tunisia braces for intense storms in August 2026

Seasonal climate models for Western Europe project that August 2026 will be markedly hotter and drier across France, with temperature anomalies of +1 °C to +2 °C and precipitation totals well below normal. The forecasts suggest occasional thunderstorms, but insufficient rainfall to reverse the developing drought.

In neighboring Tunisia, hydrometeorology expert Mehrez Ghannouchi cites the European Copernicus C3S system, which indicates a higher than normal probability of August rain, especially in the western region. He warns that after prolonged heat, any rainfall could trigger violent, short‑duration thunderstorms—locally known as “Ghassalet Ennouader”—bringing flash floods and stressing drainage infrastructure. Ghannouchi urges authorities to clean storm‑water channels and maintain riverbeds to mitigate potential damage.