Large part of south west France have been placed on red alert – the highest level, indicating a potential danger to life – for heatwaves, while most of the rest of the country is expecting a scorchingly hot week.
French weather forecaster Météo France is predicting a week of “exceptional” heat and has placed 12 départements on red alert level for high temperatures on Monday.
They are; Charente, Charente-Maritime, Dordogne, Gironde, Lot, Lot-et-Garonne, Tarn-et-Garonne, Landes, Gers, Tarn, Haute-Garonne and Aude.
This is the highest alert level indicating a possible danger to life from the heat, and triggers emergency heatwave plans from local authorities. It also gives local authorities the power to take actions such as banning large events or closing access to certain areas.
It’s forecast that temperatures could reach up to 43C in some areas.
Heatwave warning map for Monday, August 11. Map: Meteo France
Most of the rest of the country is on orange or yellow alert for high temperatures, with only a handful of départements along the Channel coast not on alert.
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The heatwave is expected to peak on Monday and Tuesday, although it’s likely that the hot weather will continue all week.
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On Monday temperatures are predicted to reach 41C in Toulouse and Montélimar, 40C in Bordeaux, 39C in Montpellier, 38C in Lyon and 37C in Bourges.
Even Brittany, which usually escapes the worst of the heat, is expected to see temperatures of 36C in Rennes.
READ ALSO: In numbers: Yes, summers in France are getting hotter✎
On Tuesday the high temperatures will move northwards, with predictions of 37C in Auxerre and 36C in Paris and Metz.
🔴🌡 Les journées de lundi et de mardi devraient être les plus chaudes à l’échelle nationale. Demain lundi, les très fortes chaleurs progressent au nord, et s’intensifient encore dans le Sud-Ouest avec fréquemment 40 à 42 °C. 👉 meteofrance.com/actualites-e…
— Météo-France (@meteofrance.com) August 10, 2025 at 5:33 PM
Meanwhile in Aude, the enormous wildfire that has been blazing for five days has been declared fully under control, but parts of the blaze are still burning and hundreds of firefighters are still in the area.
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