France extends red alert to 49 departments as heatwave threatens to break all-time temperature records

Heatwave intensifies across France

France is grappling with its second severe heatwave in less than 20 days, with Météo-France warning that the average temperature across metropolitan France could match the hottest day ever recorded in the country. The national weather service placed 35 departments under a red alert on Sunday, and that number will rise to 49 on Monday, a new record. Another 40 departments are under an orange alert. Temperatures are forecast to reach 40°C to 42°C in red-alert zones, with nighttime lows staying between 20°C and 25°C, bringing tropical nights to the north.

We are facing a particularly intense episode that has occurred unusually early.

Météo-France has compared the situation to the deadly August 2003 heatwave, which caused 15,000 deaths in France. The agency expects the heat to persist through much of the week.

Government activates emergency measures

Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu convened an interministerial crisis cell on Saturday, bringing together more than ten ministers to coordinate the response. Prefects were ordered to ban alcohol consumption in public spaces on Sunday, and 845 schools will be closed on Monday. The government also reinforced wildfire preparedness, placed emergency services and the military on alert for forest fires, and tightened monitoring of water supplies for the country's nuclear reactors.

In the face of the heatwave, let us look out for one another. Let us collectively be attentive to our elderly, our children, and isolated or vulnerable people.

Fête de la Musique disrupted

The heatwave's peak coincides with the traditional Fête de la Musique, a nationwide street music festival that runs late into the night. While some cities canceled outdoor events, Paris, Lyon, and Strasbourg largely went ahead with celebrations. The Louvre museum called off a free concert under its glass pyramid due to the heat. In Paris, the Eiffel Tower and other landmarks installed water misting stations to help cool the crowds.

Health risks and historical context

The World Health Organization's European office reported this month that over 200,000 people died from heat-related causes across Europe in the past four years. The 2003 heatwave, which killed 15,000 elderly people in France, remains a national trauma and a benchmark for current warnings. Authorities are urging vigilance, especially for the elderly, children, and those with pre-existing conditions, as heat exhaustion and potentially fatal heat strokes become a risk.

Forecast and regional impact

Forecast highs for Monday include 43°C in Bordeaux, 41°C in Limoges and Rennes, 40°C in Toulouse and Tours, and 39°C in Paris. More than 90% of the French population, over 63 million people, will be affected by the extreme heat at the start of the week. The thermal anomaly also extends to southern parts of the United Kingdom, Spain, and Portugal.