After a sweltering day, night time brought about about a thunderstorm in Paris on Tuesday (July 30) going into the early hours of Wednesday (July 31), illuminating skies above the Eiffel Tower.

Earlier, temperatures rose to around 35 degrees Celsius (95) in Paris and 37 in Chateauroux, where the shooting competitions are taking place, while the heat in Versailles has seen horse welfare put under the microscope on the first day of the dressage competitions, with organisers rolling out a special protocol.

With thermometers reading upwards of 38 degrees Celsius (100.4°F) in Marseille, sailors donned ice vests to beat the searing Mediterranean heat.

Despite the stormy weather and overnight rain, organisers cleared the Olympic women’s and men’s triathlons to go ahead on Wednesday after the latest Seine river water tests showed lower levels of bacteria, ending days of uncertainty over whether the central Paris swim was viable after heavy rains.

The men’s triathlon had been scheduled to take place on Tuesday but was postponed until Wednesday after the river failed water quality tests.

There are forecasts for furthers showers around midday which could hit towards the end of the men’s event.

Organisers make the call based on analysis of river samples taken the previous day at 5 a.m. combined with a discussion between experts on overnight weather, according to Paris 2024.

(Reuters)