France places 81 departments under heatwave, storm alerts as temperatures near 40C

French authorities placed 81 departments under weather alerts on Thursday, with most warnings linked to an ongoing heatwave expected to push temperatures close to 40°C (104°F) in some areas. According to Meteo-France, the national weather service, 69 departments were under heatwave alerts, including orange-level warnings covering parts of central and eastern France, the Paris region, and Haute-Savoie. An additional 21 departments were under thunderstorm alerts, mainly affecting parts of Normandy, Brittany, the Southern Alps, and northern France.

Temperature forecasts

Forecasters said temperatures could reach up to 39°C in central France on Thursday, while several major cities were expected to experience temperatures well above seasonal averages. The heatwave is expected to continue on Friday, with temperatures remaining elevated across much of the country and highs again approaching 40°C in some regions. Authorities have urged residents to take precautions against extreme heat, particularly for vulnerable groups such as the elderly and young children.