Strong thunderstorms, heavy rain, hail and lightning were likely from 6pm over the French capital, the weather service announced in a bulletin.

This could be accompanied by “intense precipitation (around 20mm to 40mm in less than an hour)” with the impact to be very localised and last until about midnight, the service said.

The storm alert comes as Paris swelters in heat forecast to reach 35°C today as it hosts the fourth day of the Games.

The scorching temperatures will be keenly felt by Olympians competing in outdoor events including the beach volleyball at the Eiffel Tower and the women’s rugby semifinals at the Stade de France.

Other cities in France hosting Olympic events have also been affected by a strong heatwave, with temperatures in some central and southern parts hitting 40°C in recent days.