Record Heat Across France
France is enduring a historic heatwave that has pushed temperatures to dangerous extremes across much of the country. Météo-France placed dozens of departments under its highest alert level as the crisis unfolded. 4
Strasbourg reached temperatures up to 40 degrees Celsius over the last weekend of June. 4 The heat shifted eastward by Saturday, June 27, but the red alert remained in force across a wide swath of the country. 4
Death Toll and Health Impact
France recorded approximately 1,000 excess deaths during the heatwave, according to early estimates. 7 The country's health minister confirmed that the number of deaths observed was above normal levels. 6
Since June 18, 74 drowning deaths were recorded across France. 6 At-home deaths rose as the crisis continued into late June. 7
Alert Levels and Department Status
At the peak, Météo-France placed 37 departments under red canicule alert and 48 under orange on Saturday, June 27. 6 On Sunday, 24 departments remained at red alert, while 41 stayed at orange. 6
Several departments, including Seine-Maritime, Eure, and Indre-et-Loire, dropped from orange to yellow on Sunday. 6 The red alert was expected to lift by Sunday evening, June 28, as cooler air arrived from the west and northwest. 4
What Was Driving the Heat
AccuWeather warned that over 250 million people faced a dangerous heat dome extending into the July 4th holiday weekend. 3 The extreme heat warning remained active for multiple French departments including Jura, Yvelines, Loire, Meuse, Puy-de-Dôme, and Bas-Rhin. 8
Météo-France noted that while the heatwave was receding, a fresh temperature rise was expected later in the week following July 1. 5 A weak weather disturbance moved from Brittany toward Normandy and the Hauts-de-France, bringing cloudy skies and light drizzle along the English Channel coast. 5
Current Conditions and Outlook
As of July 1, conditions were described as generally sunny across France, with more cloud cover over the northwest quarter. 5 AccuWeather recorded a temperature of 23°C in the Gaillon area, with a RealFeel of 22°C. 1
The broader pattern shows a receding heatwave followed by a renewed temperature rise expected later in the week. 5 Cooler air arriving from the west also brings the risk of potentially violent storms. 4
Check the forecast for your city at PrestoWeather to stay ahead of the next weather shift.