France is bracing for a prolonged and intense heatwave after wildfires broke out in the south and 84 of the country’s 101 administrative departments were placed on heatwave alert from Monday through midweek.
Firefighters were deployed in the Corbières region of Aude, in the southwest, where temperatures soared above 40°C, prompting the evacuation of a campsite and a nearby abbey as a safety precaution.
Temperatures in southern France exceeded 40°C on Sunday, with widespread highs between 35°C and 38°C, according to national weather agency Météo-France. The mercury hit 40.9°C in Grospierres (southeast), 40.1°C in Vinsobres, and 39.9°C in Cadenet.
The intense heat, which began sweeping across the south on Friday, is expected to engulf nearly the entire country by Monday, particularly along the Mediterranean coast, where temperatures are forecast to reach 37–40°C.
An orange alert—the second-highest heat warning level—will be in place for 84 departments on Monday, with the peak expected on Tuesday and Wednesday. Some areas could see highs of 41°C.
The government convened an interministerial crisis meeting on Sunday evening to reassess public health guidance and emergency measures. Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau said officials are prioritising the protection of vulnerable people.
Some cities have already announced school closures at the start of the week to protect pupils from extreme heat.
In Bordeaux, where it reached 36°C, families sought refuge at a lakeside beach beneath the shade of pine trees.
“At home, in the flat, it’s just hell,” said Evan Bernard, who brought his 18-month-old son to escape the heat. “We live in the dark. It’s an oven.”
The heatwave is part of a wider pattern affecting much of southern Europe, stretching from Italy to Portugal.
In Spain, the temperature hit a sweltering 46°C on Saturday in El Granado, while parts of Portugal, including Lisbon, remain under red alert.
Meteorologists attribute the extreme weather to a ‘heat dome’—a high-pressure system that traps hot air and blocks the arrival of cooler fronts.
