France heatwave: Seven departments on high alert today
Wildfire risk reaches highest level in south
Temperatures of 35C to 38C are forecast from the south-west to the lower Rhône valley (photo: Lyon during the heatwave in May 2026]Credit: ZUMA Press, Inc. / Alamy Stock Photo
Seven departments in southern France are on orange heatwave alert on July 5, while seven departments have been placed on the highest level of wildfire warning as temperatures continue to climb.
Météo-France has warned that the heat will intensify over the coming days, with highs of up to 40C expected in parts of Occitanie. However, forecasters say it is too early to classify the episode as a new national heatwave comparable to the record-breaking conditions seen at the end of June.
Departments on alert for heat on July 5
Seven departments on heatwave alert
The departments on orange canicule alert today are Ardèche, Aude, Drôme, Gard, Hérault, Pyrénées-Orientales and Vaucluse.
Temperatures are expected to reach 35C to 37C across much of the Mediterranean region, with local peaks of 38C to 40C in Occitanie.
"The very hot conditions will spread into the south-west on Sunday before strengthening further and extending northwards on Monday," Météo-France said.
Much of France is forecast to exceed 30C this weekend, apart from areas close to the Channel coast. Night-time temperatures will also remain unusually high in the south-east, staying between 21C and 24C, and locally 25C.
Monday is expected to bring another rise of 1C to 2C in many areas. Temperatures of 35C to 38C are forecast from the south-west to the lower Rhône valley, while much of northern France is expected to see 31C to 35C, well above seasonal norms.
Despite the rising temperatures, Météo-France said the probability of this event reaching the intensity of the late June heatwave remains "relatively low".
"It is still too early to determine the peak intensity of this episode or whether it will meet the criteria for a national heatwave," climatologist Lauriane Batté said.
Wildfire warnings in southern France
Alongside the heat, dry conditions and at times strong winds have pushed the wildfire danger to its highest level across parts of southern France.
Departments on alert for wildfires on July 5Météo-France
Authorities are urging residents and visitors to avoid activities that could spark fires, particularly in or near forests and scrubland.
The latest heat follows an exceptionally hot June, during which France recorded its warmest June nights since records began.
The week ahead is expected to remain significantly warmer than average, forecasters say uncertainty remains over how far the hottest conditions will spread and how long they will last.
