France likely to face third heatwave of the year this weekend and next week

France is likely to face another heatwave this weekend and next week, according to forecasts cited by Le Monde and Météo-France, after a late-June heat episode that already strained hospitals and public services and was linked to about 1,000 additional deaths.

Météo-France forecaster Patrick Galois said heatwave-level temperatures are likely to return first in the south on Sunday. Le Monde reported that temperatures could reach 35C or higher across the southern half of the country, with 36C to 37C possible around Bordeaux, Toulouse and Agen.

The hottest weather is expected to intensify next week and spread farther north, although with less intensity than in the south. That means the most acute risk will likely begin in southern France before expanding into more of the country.

Another heatwave, or the same episode?

The forecast is not only about temperature. It also raises a classification question for French forecasters and authorities: whether this will count as a new heatwave or as a continuation of the one France is already experiencing.

Le Monde described the coming spell as what could be France's third heatwave of the year. Météo-France has also said the situation could still be treated as part of the current episode if temperatures do not fall enough nationally before the weekend.

Le Monde reported that the orange heatwave alert could be lifted for all French departments on Thursday and then reactivated if the forecast holds. That makes the next few days important for both the formal warning system and the public-health response.

Health pressure after the June heat

The stakes are already visible. AP reported that France recorded about 1,000 additional deaths during the late-June heatwave, based on Santé Publique France data. It also reported more than 1,400 deaths on June 25 and 26, above the usual 900 to 1,000 daily deaths before the heat wave.

That recent toll is part of why the new forecast matters. Another stretch of very hot weather could deepen risks for older adults and other vulnerable people, while adding to pressure on hospitals and emergency services that have already been stretched.

The Guardian reported that Paris authorities restricted public takeaway-alcohol sales during the heatwave and that hospitals and ambulance services were under heavy strain. Those measures underline how quickly city services can be affected when dangerous heat lasts for days.

What forecasters are watching

The next key question is whether temperatures drop enough to break the current episode before the weekend or whether France stays within the same prolonged heat event. Authorities will also be watching whether the weekend heat meets France's formal canicule criteria.

If the forecast holds, the impacts are not likely to be limited to public health. Prolonged heat can worsen drought and raise wildfire risk, particularly in southern areas already exposed to severe summer temperatures.

For now, Météo-France, Santé Publique France and local authorities are watching the same near-term signals: whether the orange alerts return, how far north the heat spreads, and whether hospitals and emergency services come under renewed strain.