Overview
- On Friday the government announced the first‑time activation of an Orsec “chaleurs extrêmes” plan to impose compulsory measures in departments placed in Météo‑France vigilance rouge.
- Météo‑France said it will extend vigilance rouge to about 24 departments for Saturday and warned the third heatwave in two months is likely to be severe and to last into next week.
- Health authorities report a slight rise in emergency‑room visits and SOS Médecins calls, hospitals are preparing extra capacity, and officials have recorded 131 drownings since June 19.
- Fires and drought have burned far more land than usual this year, forcing evacuations, tying up firefighting resources and prompting cancellations of outdoor events ahead of Bastille Day.
- Employers and platforms are changing operations: Uber Eats and Deliveroo will pause bicycle deliveries during peak heat in red zones and the Haut‑commissaire Clément Beaune is urging mandatory branch talks to set heat‑adapted work rules by summer 2027.