France has placed more than a third of the country under its highest heatwave warning as an intense and prolonged spell of extreme temperatures grips the nation, prompting emergency measures, school closures, transport disruptions, and heightened concerns over public safety.
The red heatwave alert issued by Météo-France covers 35 departments, including the Paris region, as temperatures are expected to reach 40°C (104°F) in some areas on June 21, with even hotter conditions forecast for June 22.
The escalation follows days of severe heat that had already affected more than half of France’s population. Earlier in the week, approximately 41 million people, out of the country’s roughly 69 million residents, were under an orange heat alert, the second-highest warning level, according to calculations based on national population data.
Météo-France warned that the heatwave would be “widespread, prolonged and intense.” On June 21, the agency said, “Very high temperatures are settling in for the long term across the country.”
Temperatures of between 38 and 41 degrees Celsius are forecast across affected areas.
Government Imposes Emergency Measures
French authorities have mobilized emergency services and military resources to prepare for heightened wildfire risks and other heat-related emergencies.
The government has also imposed restrictions during the annual Fête de la Musique celebrations, a nationwide summer solstice festival that draws millions of participants into streets, public squares, and concert venues.
Alcohol consumption in public spaces has been banned in departments under the red alert. Authorities said organizers must limit alcohol use to “preserve emergency services and allow medics to concentrate on taking care of the most vulnerable.”
National and local officials have introduced additional measures to reduce health risks. Cooling stations, including misting facilities, have been installed at major tourist attractions such as the Eiffel Tower and other venues across Paris.
The government has reinforced wildfire preparedness measures and ordered tighter monitoring of water supplies used to cool France’s nuclear reactors.
Schools and Transport Services Disrupted
The heatwave has forced widespread adjustments across the education system.
Education Minister Edouard Geffray said 784 primary and secondary schools had modified their schedules to protect students from extreme temperatures, including 150 schools that closed entirely. Authorities later announced that 845 schools would be closed on June 22.
Transport networks have also been affected. Some train services were canceled as extreme heat threatened railway infrastructure, including tracks and electrical systems. France’s national rail operator deployed thousands of additional staff to respond to potential disruptions.
Health Concerns Mount
President Emmanuel Macron called for “great vigilance” and urged citizens to focus on “taking care of the oldest, the most vulnerable.”
Health Minister Stephanie Rist warned young people to be “really careful with alcohol and physical activity” as the country prepared for the Fête de la Musique festivities.
Authorities remain particularly concerned about vulnerable populations, including elderly residents in care facilities, people living alone, and individuals without adequate shelter from the heat.
France’s experience during the devastating 2003 heatwave continues to shape official responses. Approximately 15,000 older people died during that event, which prompted major reforms in the country’s heat emergency planning.
The current heatwave has already been linked to fatalities. A 30-year-old man died on an athletics track outside Paris on June 19. French media also reported that four children drowned on June 20 amid the extreme weather conditions.
France Faces Second Heatwave of the Year
The current episode marks France’s second major heatwave of 2026.
An unusually intense period of heat in May shattered temperature records across roughly half the country. France also recorded its hottest spring since national records began in 1900, with average temperatures from March through May approximately 1.7°C above normal.
Scientists have repeatedly warned that climate change is increasing both the frequency and intensity of heatwaves across Europe.
The World Health Organization’s Europe office said earlier this month that more than 200,000 people across Europe died from heat-related causes over the previous four years and that most of those deaths were preventable.
Researchers have also linked recent extreme weather events to human-driven climate change. A rapid scientific assessment concluded that human-caused climate change contributed to approximately 1,500 deaths during an unusually early European heatwave last month.
With temperatures expected to remain exceptionally high into the coming week, French authorities continue to urge caution as the country confronts one of its most severe early-summer heat events in recent years.