Intense Heat Wave: Fourteen Departments Issue Red Alerts, Five Municipalities Beat Previous Heat Records
France Braces for Intense Heatwave, with Multiple Departments on Red Alert
As of mid-August 2025, France is experiencing an intense heatwave, with multiple departments currently on red alert, the highest level of heat warning. The red alerts cover approximately 12 to 14 departments mainly in the southern and central regions, including Aude, Charente, Pyrénées-Atlantiques, Vendée, Vaucluse, Drôme, and areas around Lyon [1][2][4][5].
The heatwave is characterized by exceptional temperatures reaching up to 43°C (109.4°F) in parts of southwest France, particularly in Charente and Aude [1][2]. In other red alert departments, temperatures are forecasted in the range of 35°C to nearly 40°C, with records such as Nîmes reaching 40.9°C, the highest August temperature recorded since 1964 [4].
For the next few days after August 11–12, the heatwave is expected to persist into mid-August and potentially beyond, with widespread temperatures in the range of 35°C–39°C even as the heat expands northward, affecting regions like Centre-Val de Loire and Paris, where forecasts indicate up to 34°C to 38°C [1][4]. This prolonged extreme heat poses major health risks, fire danger, and air quality challenges across the affected departments [1][2][5].
In response, municipalities are taking steps to alleviate the heatwave's effects. In Lyon, two large parks will extend their opening hours late into the evening, and a third will remain open all night. Two museums in Lyon will open their doors for free [3]. In Bordeaux, the city hall has opened a shelter for the homeless [8].
The red alert grants local authorities powers such as cancelling outdoor events and modifying school or summer camp schedules [1][2]. In Rhône, a ban on outdoor construction work from midday until 10 pm and on all outdoor public events or events in non-air-conditioned establishments until the early evening has been ordered [6].
This is France’s second major heatwave of summer 2025 and is considered exceptional both in intensity and duration [1][4]. The situation remains critical due to ongoing wildfire risks and health precautions. If you need details on current alerts by department or more precise daily forecasts, it is recommended to consult the latest updates directly from Météo-France.
| Region/Department Examples | Alert Level | Expected Temperature Range | Notes | |--------------------------------|---------------|-------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------| | Southwest (Charente, Aude) | Red | Up to 43°C | Firefighters active due to wildfires; records broken | | Central (Vaucluse, Drôme) | Red | 38°C–40°C | Fire risk high | | Pyrénées-Atlantiques to Vendée | Red | 35°C–39°C | Heatwave expanding northward | | Paris, Centre-Val de Loire | Orange/Red | 34°C–38°C | Heatwave moving northwards |
In addition, a massive fire that broke out on Tuesday in the Corbière massif remains under surveillance [7]. The health impact of the ongoing heatwave is being anticipated by the State, with hospitals prepared to respond [9]. The heatwave is also contributing to a deterioration in air quality, with departments like Var, Bouches-du-Rhône, and Vaucluse on level 2 alert for ozone pollution [10].
[1] https://www.meteofrance.com/actualites/actualites-meteo/2025/08/11/la-chaleur-s-intensifie-en-france-2099072 [2] https://www.meteofrance.com/actualites/actualites-meteo/2025/08/12/la-chaleur-s-intensifie-en-france-2099171 [3] https://www.leprogres.fr/lyon/2025/08/12/les-musees-de-lyon-ouvrent-gratuitement-le-mercredi-soir-pour-les-visiteurs-souffrant-de-la-chaleur-1774556 [4] https://www.meteofrance.com/actualites/actualites-meteo/2025/08/11/la-chaleur-s-intensifie-en-france-2099072 [5] https://www.meteofrance.com/actualites/actualites-meteo/2025/08/12/la-chaleur-s-intensifie-en-france-2099171 [6] https://www.meteofrance.com/actualites/actualites-meteo/2025/08/12/la-chaleur-s-intensifie-en-france-2099171 [7] https://www.meteofrance.com/actualites/actualites-meteo/2025/08/12/la-chaleur-s-intensifie-en-france-2099171 [8] https://www.leprogres.fr/lyon/2025/08/12/les-musees-de-lyon-ouvrent-gratuitement-le-mercredi-soir-pour-les-visiteurs-souffrant-de-la-chaleur-1774556 [9] https://www.meteofrance.com/actualites/actualites-meteo/2025/08/12/la-chaleur-s-intensifie-en-france-2099171 [10] https://www.meteofrance.com/actualites/actualites-meteo/2025/08/12/la-chaleur-s-intensifie-en-france-2099171
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