Heatwave
All the latest news and essential info on heatwaves in France.
Summer 2026 was France's 'hottest ever', minister confirms
France experienced its hottest summer on record in 2026, marked by heatwaves, drought and massive wildfires, the environment minister said on Thursday.
OUTLOOK: Is France set for yet another heatwave this September?
After a summer of repeated high temperatures, France could be facing another spell of hot weather in early September. Could this qualify as a sixth heatwave?
Drownings surge past 300 in France amid heatwaves
France has recorded more than 300 drownings this summer, up sharply from last year, a minister said Sunday, linking the surge to the heatwaves that have swept Europe.
Is it safe to drink tap water in France during heatwaves?
Throughout France’s five heatwaves this summer, tap water has sometimes been coming out of faucets surprisingly warm. Is it still safe to drink?
In Numbers: How many people have been arrested over French wildfires?
France's 2026 wildfire season has already broken records, with vast areas destroyed by flames and more than 200,000 people evacuated - it has also seen hundreds arrested on suspicion of starting fires.
More than 150 million in Europe face temperatures over 35C on Friday
Millions of people across Europe -- particularly in France, Italy, Spain and Britain -- baked through a new wave of extreme temperatures Thursday as the continent's latest heatwave picked up.
Heatwave could be 'last period of extreme heat in France in 2026'
France is currently in the grip of its fifth heatwave of the summer - but one weather channel predicts that this will be the last one for 2026.
7 activities to do during a French heatwave
If France is in the grip of a heatwave you may need to alter your plans - here are some suggestions for fun activities to do when the temperature soars.
When will France's fifth heatwave peak?
France is now in the grip of its fifth heatwave of the summer of 2026 - although sometimes it's hard to tell when one ended and the next one began. So when will this one peak?
French buyers rethink housing choices after heatwaves
After multiple severe heatwaves in a single summer, French residents are increasingly factoring high temperatures into their home hunts, realtors say, bumping up features such as shutters, air conditioning and indirect sunlight on their priority lists.
Gelato for lunch? Bedlinen in the freezer? Heatwave tips from southern Europe
With scorching temperatures breaking records across Europe this summer, The Local has put together tried and tested tips for surviving heatwaves from southern Europe, where locals have had decades of practice coping with the heat.
MAP: Where in France is closed due to wildfires?
Whether it's due to an ongoing wildfire, or the high risk of fire, many of France's largest and most famous natural sites are currently closed to the public.
Western Europe experienced hottest June-July on record
Western Europe experienced its hottest June-July on record as climate change fuels an historic summer of heat, drought and wildfires across the region, the EU's global warming monitor said Monday.
'Don't sleep naked' - How to get a good night’s sleep in a French heatwave
France's searing heatwaves can also bring with them some hot, sticky and uncomfortable nights - so here are some tips from experts to help you sleep when it's hot.
France enters fifth heatwave with 22 départements on alert
Forecasters on Monday extended orange heatwave alerts to 22 départements in central and south-eastern France, up from 13 on Sunday as the fifth ‘canicule’ of the summer extends its grip on the country.
No respite from scorching summer as France braces for a fifth heatwave
South-east France is still in the grip of the fourth heatwave of the summer – but the rest of the country is due to plough straight into a fifth in a few days, with temperatures expected to top 40C in the south and 35C in the north.
France increases fines for swimming in prohibited areas
Following a spate of drownings this summer, France has announced an increase in fines for people caught swimming in prohibited areas or ignoring red flag warnings.
In numbers: Yes, summers in France really are getting hotter
Summers in France have always been hot, especially in the south, so do the latest wave of extreme weather warnings really mark a rise in temperatures? Or just a change in weather forecasting techniques and media attention?
France braces for violent storms as heatwave continues
Parts of south west France are bracing for severe thunderstorms on Monday afternoon, while 20 départements in eastern and south-eastern France remain on orange heatwave alert.
Tourists from France and Spain flock to Sweden for cooler summer
More and more tourists from southern Europe – particularly France and Spain – are heading to Sweden to experience a cooler summer, according to new data from the Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Development.
‘Not out of danger’: Residents return to scorched French village
The scent of cinder lingered in the air as Michael Elicegui sipped a coffee on a cafe terrasse after returning to his French village following a wildfire.
France to face fourth heatwave of 2026 from Tuesday
Forecasters have warned that France is set to bake under a fourth heatwave of the summer this week, beginning in some areas on Tuesday.
Explained: The causes of France's increasingly severe wildfires
France, like its Mediterranean neighbours, is seeing an increasing number of severe wildfires, with thousands of hectares burned already this summer.