France heatwave brings temperatures above 40°C (104°F), exceptionally warm nights, and widespread wildfire risk
A prolonged heatwave continued across France on Monday, July 13, with 37 departments under red heatwave vigilance and another 39 under orange vigilance. Exceptionally warm nights, increasingly dry soils and a nationwide wildfire danger are expected to persist as the highest temperatures shift toward central and eastern parts of the country.
Image credit: Fatih Turan/Pexels
Météo-France maintained red heatwave vigilance for 37 departments and orange vigilance for another 39 on Monday, July 13, as the hottest conditions shifted toward central and eastern France. Temperatures on Monday were forecast to ease along the Atlantic coast but peak between 35–38°C (95–100.4°F) across central and eastern regions, with isolated areas reaching 40°C (104°F) in Centre-Val de Loire, Burgundy, northern Auvergne, and Rhône-Alpes.
Forecasts for Tuesday, July 14, indicate temperatures above 35°C (95°F) will continue across much of the country, including the Toulouse region, Centre, Burgundy and the Paris region, while temperatures near 40°C (104°F) remain possible from the Var hinterland through the Rhône Valley toward the Lyon area. Overnight minimum temperatures heading into Tuesday are expected to remain between 24–25°C (75.2–77°F) across central and eastern France, Île-de-France, and the Lyon region.
Sunday brought the highest temperatures of the heatwave. A provisional maximum of 42.3°C (108.1°F) was measured in Pissos, Landes, by 17:00 local time (LT). Saintes reached 41.8°C (107.2°F), while Châteaumeillant, Mauprévoir, Angoulême, La Rochelle, and Cazaux each recorded 40.9°C (105.6°F).
The night from July 11 to 12 brought unusually warm conditions across western France. Saint-Nazaire recorded a minimum temperature of 24.3°C (75.7°F), breaking the previous July record of 22°C (71.6°F) set on July 23, 1990. Nantes registered a minimum of 23.9°C (75°F), surpassing a record of 23.1°C (73.6°F) set just days earlier on July 10, 2026. Quimper reached 23°C (73.4°F), exceeding its previous July record of 22.1°C (71.8°F) established on July 12, 1983.
Monday began with minimum temperatures between 22 and 26°C (71.6 and 78.8°F) across the western half of France, 19 and 23°C (66.2 and 73.4°F) in the east, and 18 and 22°C (64.4 and 71.6°F) further south. The Channel coast recorded cooler morning temperatures of 16 to 19°C (60.8 to 66.2°F).
Thunderstorms are expected to develop along the western edge of the hot air mass. Morning storms across Brittany, southern Pays de la Loire, and Poitou may produce moderate rainfall with gusts up to 70 to 80 km/h (43 to 50 mph).
The systems are moving toward northern Pays de la Loire, Cotentin, and the Paris region while gradually weakening. During the late afternoon and evening, more organized thunderstorms are forecast from the Massif Central toward Grand Est, bringing a risk of strong wind gusts. Isolated showers are also expected over the Alps and Pyrenees.
Low morning clouds over the Gulf of Lion and along the Aquitaine coast will break up during the day. The Autan wind is forecast to clear morning clouds between Hérault and Roussillon. Northeast winds will gust between 40 and 60 km/h (25 and 37 mph) along the Channel coast. The Autan wind will reach 50–60 km/h (31–37 mph) in its corridor, while a steady south wind in the Rhône Valley and across the Cévennes will produce gusts of 50–60 km/h (31–37 mph).
Since May, anticyclonic conditions over western Europe have allowed blocking patterns to form and strengthen near France. This setup has produced recurring long periods of calm, sunny, and increasingly warm weather, driving the persistence of the extreme heat.
Combined with persistent rainfall deficits and repeated episodes of exceptional heat, average soil moisture across France has fallen below levels recorded in early July 2022 and 2025. Parts of southwestern France are experiencing record dryness for early July.
Météo-France says the combination of extreme heat and exceptionally dry soils has created an exceptional forest-fire danger extending across the country. This elevated fire risk is expected to continue through midweek as the heatwave gradually shifts eastward.
References:
1 Canicule : poursuite des très fortes chaleurs et nuits chaudes – Météo-France – July 12, 2026
I’m a science journalist and researcher at The Watchers, contributing to the Epicenter edition, where I cover peer-reviewed scientific research and emerging discoveries across Earth and space sciences. With a background in astronomy and a passion for environmental science, I’ve worked in shark and coral conservation in Fiji, conducting reef and shark-behavior research, contributing to mangrove restoration, and earning PADI Open Water and Coral Reef Certifications. I bring a blend of scientific rigor and storytelling to illuminate the discoveries shaping our planet and beyond.
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