France braces for weeklong heat wave as red alerts spread

France is facing a punishing early-summer heat wave, with Météo-France red alerts spreading across much of mainland France and temperatures forecast to climb above 40C in some areas. Officials say the worst of the episode is expected to last through the week, with little relief before Friday.

The latest escalation came as warnings widened from roughly a third of the country in earlier coverage to more than half of France in AP’s Monday update. El País reported 49 departments under red alert, while The Guardian described the system as intensifying across a broad swath of the country. The differences reflect how quickly the alert map has been changing as forecasters update conditions.

Météo-France and French officials have described the spell as unusually intense and prolonged for late June. The danger is not only the daytime heat. Hot nights are also expected to persist, making it harder for vulnerable people to recover and increasing pressure on public-health services.

Alerts spread as forecasters warn of prolonged heat

The current heat wave has developed rapidly, with each update showing a larger area under the highest warning level. AP reported red alerts across more than half of mainland France on Monday, after earlier reports had already shown a major expansion from the first round of warnings.

Forecasters say the heat should remain severe through the week. One of the main open questions is how long the highest-level alerts will remain in place and whether temperatures will ease on schedule toward Friday.

The episode is arriving very early in the summer, which has made it stand out to officials and reporters alike. France is being hit by a second heat wave in about 20 days, adding to concern about how much strain schools, transport networks and public services can absorb so early in the season.

Schools, events and transport are being disrupted

The heat is already affecting daily life across France. Reports say more than 800 schools have closed, while El País put the figure at 845 closures in one update. Education officials are also dealing with altered schedules and exam-related disruptions as schools try to manage dangerous classroom conditions.

Public events have also been canceled or scaled back. Reports from the Guardian and AP say concerts, outdoor gatherings and other heat-sensitive events have been affected, while some public-facing services have changed hours or operations because of the conditions.

Authorities have also restricted alcohol consumption in some public spaces and at certain events as part of the response. Transport has been affected as well, including service adjustments involving SNCF and other public operations.

Public safety concerns widen

The heat wave is carrying immediate health risks, especially for older people, children and anyone without effective cooling. France’s relatively limited widespread air conditioning makes prolonged heat more disruptive than in some other countries, especially when nights stay hot.

Several drownings have also been reported as people seek relief in rivers and other waterways. That has added another public-safety concern as authorities warn residents to be cautious around water, outdoor activity and prolonged exposure during the hottest part of the day.

French ministries and local authorities have moved into emergency-response mode, with reports of an interministerial crisis cell and coordination among the ecology ministry, education ministry and local officials. Paris authorities have also been among the agencies adjusting public activity in response to the heat.

What happens next will depend on whether the forecast easing arrives late in the week. For now, officials are watching for changes in the red-alert map, further school or event cancellations, and any update on when temperatures will start to fall. The message from forecasters remains the same: the heat is expected to stay dangerous through the week, and some areas may see temperatures above 40C before relief arrives.