Severe heatwave strikes France: 14 regions under emergency status (red alert) and 64 regions under high alert (orange alert) by Tuesday midday

Severe heatwave strikes France: 14 regions under emergency status (red alert) and 64 regions under high alert (orange alert) by Tuesday midday

Severe Heatwave Sweeps Across France: Over Half the Country Under Orange Alert

As France grapples with a prolonged heatwave, Météo-France, the country's national weather service, has issued a series of alerts. On Monday, August 11, at 4 pm, a new bulletin was published, revealing a significant shift in the alert levels across the country [2][4].

Initially, 12 departments were under the highest heatwave alert level (red alert), with another 41 departments under orange alert, reflecting a severe and widespread heatwave across France [2][4]. This heatwave, exceptional in its duration, intensity, and geographical extent, brought unprecedented temperatures, including records of 43°C in southern France and 41.4°C in Tourbes near Béziers [1][3][5].

By August 12, the number of departments under the highest heatwave alert level (red alert) increased to 14, mainly covering the lower half of France from the southern Pyrénées-Atlantiques to Vendée, and extending around Lyon in central France [1]. Approximately two-thirds of the country were under orange alert, six departments remained at yellow alert, and 12 departments in the northwest were still at green alert [1].

The heatwave affected a large swath of departments, from the southwest (usually cooler), moving toward the Centre, Paris regions, Champagne, Burgundy, and the Lyon metropolitan area. Temperatures ranged mostly between 35°C and 39°C, with local peaks reaching above 40°C [1][4].

Here's a summary of the alert levels and affected departments as of August 11, 2025:

| Alert Level | Number of Departments | Key Areas / Notes | |---------------|-----------------------|---------------------------------------| | Red (highest) | 14 (increased from 12) | Southern departments including Pyrénées-Atlantiques, Vendée, Lyon area | | Orange | 41 (remained the same) | Widespread, about two-thirds of France | | Yellow | 6 (decreased from 8) | Limited areas, fewer than before | | Green | 12 (increased from 4) | Mainly in the northwest quarter |

The extreme heat has heightened the risk of wildfires in France and southern Europe, leading to fire hazards alongside health concerns [2][3][5]. Notably, Vendée is the only department that is returning to a green alert from the orange alert. No new departments have been added to the red alert.

This data is consistent across multiple credible sources reporting by August 11–12, 2025 [1][2][4][5]. The heatwave has been ongoing since Friday, and its impact on health and human activities continues to be significant.

The extreme heatwave, ongoing since August 11, has caused Météo-France, France's national weather service, to maintain a majority of the country under an orange alert, signifying severe weather conditions. However, Vendée, initially under an orange alert, has been downgraded to a green alert, indicating a decrease in the heatwave's intensity in some areas.

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