Heatwave Intensifies as Météo‑France Places Record 49 Departments on Red Alert

Overview

• Météo‑France escalated warnings from 35 red departments on Sunday to 49 red departments for Monday, marking an unprecedented spread of the highest heat alert.
• Authorities expect local peaks of about 40–42°C on the worst days, with nights staying unusually warm and some forecasts comparing the episode’s possible severity to August 2003.
• The government activated the centre interministériel de crise to coordinate health, transport and public‑order responses and ordered prefects to ban alcohol on public ways in red departments for Fête de la musique.
• Many municipalities cancelled or adapted Fête de la musique events, schools and public services have been adjusted, and emergency crews reported storm injuries, drownings and critical ozone pollution in several regions.
• Public health officials warn of heightened heat‑related mortality given past impacts (Santé publique France estimated about 5,700 heat deaths in 2025) and economists note repeated heat episodes threaten productivity, infrastructure and services.