France heatwave: 13 departments placed on orange alert for Sunday
A new spell of extreme heat is set to intensify across France on Sunday, with 13 departments placed under an orange heatwave alert as temperatures are forecast to approach 39°C in parts of the country.
According to Météo-France, the highest temperatures are expected in the south-west and along the Rhône Valley, while the heat will also remain pronounced across much of the Centre-East and South-East.
13 departments under orange heatwave alert
The Ain department will join the orange alert area from midday Sunday, bringing the total to 13 departments.
The warning covers Alpes-Maritimes, Ardèche, Drôme, Gard, Haute-Savoie, Isère, Rhône, Savoie, Var, Vaucluse and the two departments of Corsica, in addition to Ain.
The alert reflects the expected persistence of high temperatures and the potential health risks associated with prolonged heat.
Temperatures already above 37°C
The heat was already intense in parts of southern France on Saturday afternoon.
At 3 p.m., temperatures reached 37.4°C in Nîmes and Orange, while thermometers recorded 35.7°C in Aubenas, Ardèche, and 35.9°C in Le Luc, Var.
Locally, temperatures could reach around 38°C in southern France and rise to 39°C in the South-West and along the Rhône Valley.
Heat spreads towards the north-east
Sunday is expected to remain particularly hot across a large part of the country.
While temperatures could ease slightly across the southern half, Météo-France forecasts further increases across a large section of the north-east.
The combination of persistent heat and elevated daytime temperatures is expected to keep pressure on vulnerable populations and reinforce the need for precautions during the hottest periods.
Severe thunderstorms expected in the south-west
The weather situation is expected to become more unsettled later on Sunday.
A significant deterioration is forecast over south-western France towards the end of the afternoon, with thunderstorms potentially producing strong wind gusts, medium to large hail, intense rainfall and frequent lightning.
The arrival of storms could bring temporary relief from the heat in some areas, while simultaneously creating new weather-related hazards.
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