Overview
- The government announced Sunday that at least 845 primary and secondary schools will close on Monday and roughly 1,800 more will change hours to avoid the hottest afternoon periods.
- Météo France has placed 35 departments on red alert and 45 on orange, with forecasts of daytime highs of about 39–42°C and nighttime lows that may stay between 20–25°C in the worst-hit areas.
- Officials have banned drinking alcohol in public in red-alert departments and put emergency services on heightened alert to limit pressure on hospitals and respond to heat-related illness and fires.
- Education minister Édouard Geffray said many school buildings need adaptations such as better insulation and ventilation rather than universal air conditioning, and noted the scale involved across nearly 48,000 schools and 7,000 collèges.
- Authorities and forecasters compare the event to August 2003 because of its intensity, environmental groups have urged measures such as temporary climate leave for exposed workers, and officials warned alerts and closures may expand as forecasts evolve.