France Swept by Widespread Mid‑August Heatwave

Overview

• Météo‑France placed 78–80 departments under orange canicule alerts as daytime highs commonly reach 36–40°C with local peaks near 40–42°C and many areas recording tropical nights above 20°C.
• The national peak is forecast for Thursday 13 August with the worst conditions extending into Friday, and a progressive cooling expected to arrive from the west toward the weekend.
• The drought triggered by repeated heat episodes has created concrete supply tensions in about 50 departments, and the minister reported more than 40,000 people already affected by tap‑water cuts.
• Authorities have convened crisis meetings including the hydrology committee (CASH) and regional prefectures to prioritise potable water, manage restrictions and prepare emergency deliveries and local rules for use.
• This episode is the fourth canicule and part of a sequence of three summer heat waves, leaving soils and small rivers at record low levels, raising fire risk across dozens of departments and adding to projected seasonal costs.