Historic heatwave: 58 departments on red alert under stifling heat this Wednesday

France is facing one of the most intense heatwaves in its recent history this Wednesday, June 24. Météo-France is maintaining red alerts for 58 departments, while temperatures are reaching exceptional levels across much of the country. After several days of extreme heat, the situation continues to worsen with particularly sweltering nights and daytime highs that could locally exceed 42°C.

Tropical nights are becoming widespread in western and central France, the Île-de-France region, the Rhône Valley, and around the Mediterranean. At sunrise, temperatures often remain between 20 and 25°C, with notable highs of 27°C in Nantes and Bordeaux and up to 28°C in Paris. In many cities, residents no longer benefit from any nighttime cooling, exacerbating health risks for vulnerable individuals.

In the afternoon, the heat reaches its peak. Temperatures generally range between 35 and 39°C but frequently climb to between 40 and 44°C across a large part of western France. The hardest-hit areas stretch from Nouvelle-Aquitaine to Pays de la Loire, including Centre-Val de Loire, Brittany, Normandy, and Île-de-France. Several monthly records could be broken in some urban areas.

Faced with this exceptional situation, the authorities are implementing a range of adaptive measures. Nearly 1.800 schools will remain closed, while several thousand others have adjusted their schedules. Météo-France warns that scorching sun will dominate the day across most of the country, with very little respite expected for several days.

Vigilance is also being exercised regarding the risk of wildfires, which is particularly high in the west and southwest of the country. The combination of parched vegetation, extremely dry air, and scorching temperatures is creating conditions conducive to wildfires. Only a few isolated thunderstorms are possible in the late afternoon over the Pyrenees and Alps, without any significant impact on this exceptional heatwave.