France experiences cooling relief on Thursday morning, as no more departments are classified as 'red' due to heatwave conditions. However, abnormally high temperatures persist, maintaining the challenge of easing the ongoing heatwave.
Record-Breaking Heatwave Hits France Amidst Climate Change
France is currently experiencing a severe heatwave, with temperatures expected to soar as high as 40°C in Burgundy. This intense heat wave, which has been easing on the Atlantic coast, is now moving towards the Northeast [1].
The heatwave has already broken several temperature records, with the thermometer reaching nearly 43°C in Saint-Laurent-du-Pape (Ardèche) and Saint-Côme-d'Olt in Aveyron on Monday and Tuesday, surpassing previous records [2]. In a surprising turn of events, the small village of Les Sauvages (Rhône), located at 831 meters above sea level, also experienced a temperature of 37.2°C, marking a significant deviation from typical weather patterns [3].
Climate change is a significant contributor to these high temperatures. Météo-France climatologists have noted an acceleration in the occurrence of heatwaves linked to climate change, with France experiencing only two summers without heatwave episodes in the past 16 years, compared to just 51 recorded heatwaves since 1947 [2].
The heatwave has affected unusually large parts of France, including areas like the southwest, which are typically cooler than the Mediterranean coast. This shift in heat distribution patterns is a clear sign of the impact of climatic changes [1].
The current heatwave fits within a broader European context, with the year predicted as the second- or third-warmest on record globally, and European land temperatures having increased about 2.3°C above pre-industrial levels [5]. These intensifying and prolonged heatwaves fuel higher risks of wildfires, strain public health and infrastructure, and break historical temperature records that were previously considered improbable by meteorologists [1][4].
To help citizens navigate through this challenging weather, the Canicule info service hotline (0 800 06 66 66) is available for advice on dealing with the heat, and this advice is also available on the ministry's website [6].
As of August 13, a total of 68 departments are under orange alert for this second major heat wave of the summer. Twelve departments are also under a thunderstorm alert, including Loiret, Cher, Yonne, Nièvre, Allier, Lot, Aveyron, Tarn, Tarn-et-Garonne, Haute-Garonne, Hautes-Alpes, and Alpes-de-Haute-Provence [7].
Nine departments in the southwest that were under red alert since the beginning of the week are now under orange alert on Wednesday morning. The red heatwave alert remains in effect for five departments in the Rhône valley (Drôme, Isère, Rhône, Ardèche, and Haute-Loire) on August 13, and will switch to orange in the early morning of August 14 [8].
Only a quarter of departments in the northwest remain relatively unaffected by the heat wave [9]. It is crucial for everyone to stay informed, take necessary precautions, and follow advice provided by authorities to ensure safety during this extreme weather event.
References: [1] BBC News (2025). France heatwave breaks temperature records. [Online] Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-55526831 [2] Météo-France (2025). Les chiffres clés du canicule. [Online] Available at: https://www.meteofrance.com/actualites/les-chiffres-cles-du-canicule [3] Le Figaro (2025). La chaleur record à Les Sauvages (Rhône). [Online] Available at: https://www.lefigaro.fr/actualites-france/2025/08/11/la-chaleur-record-a-les-sauvages-rhone-9972488-328.php [4] The Guardian (2025). France's heatwave: 'It's like living on Mars', say residents. [Online] Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/aug/11/frances-heatwave-its-like-living-on-mars-say-residents [5] European Environment Agency (2025). State of the Environment Report - Europe 2025. [Online] Available at: https://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/state-of-the-environment-report-2025 [6] Canicule info (2025). Ligne d'information Canicule. [Online] Available at: https://www.canicule-info.fr/ [7] Météo-France (2025). Le canicule se prolonge. [Online] Available at: https://www.meteofrance.com/actualites/le-canicule-se-prolonge [8] France Info (2025). Le canicule : cinq départements restent en alerte rouge. [Online] Available at: https://www.franceinfo.fr/regions/le-canicule-cinq-departements-restent-en-alerte-rouge [9] RFI (2025). France's heatwave: Most of the country is under alert, but the northwest is relatively unaffected. [Online] Available at: https://www.rfi.fr/fr/france/20250811-le-canicule-france-la-moitie-du-pays-est-en-alerte-mais-le-nord-ouest-est-relativement-eparee
The intensity and duration of the current heatwave in France, such as the one recorded in Les Sauvages at 37.2°C, are indicative of the impacts of climate change on the weather. This heatwave, part of a broader European context with rising global temperatures, is affecting larger parts of France, including the southwest, and bringing higher risks of wildfires and extreme weather conditions.
