France’s latest heatwave: ‘Temperatures will fall, and we won’t talk about it anymore’
Key takeaways
- The heatwave that has engulfed France is underscoring the country’s lack of preparedness for climate change.
- The heat is of “exceptional” intensity, similar to the August 2003 heatwave that caused 15,000 deaths, according to the Metéo France national weather service.
- Metéo France placed 54 of its 96 mainland departments on red alert on Tuesday, meaning 90 percent of the population was facing extreme, exceptional heat – an unprecedented event.
Why this matters: an international story with cross-border implications worth tracking.
The heatwave that has engulfed France is underscoring the country’s lack of preparedness for climate change. Researcher and climate scientist François Gemenne laments that this is only considered a crisis during heatwaves, saying that France urgently needs to renovate its buildings – and reconsider its aversion to air conditioning.
By: Romain BRUNET A woman cools off under a mist sprayer during a heatwave in Bordeaux, southwestern France on June 21, 2026. © Romain Perrocheau, AFP The heatwave that has swept France since June 17 has caused record-breaking temperatures, more than 800 school closures and the cancellation of 10 percent of the trains serving the Paris region. The heat is of “exceptional” intensity, similar to the August 2003 heatwave that caused 15,000 deaths, according to the Metéo France national weather service.
Metéo France placed 54 of its 96 mainland departments on red alert on Tuesday, meaning 90 percent of the population was facing extreme, exceptional heat – an unprecedented event. The day before, temperatures oscillated between 36°C and 43°C (97°F and 109°F) across the country.