Fourth heatwave complicates firefighting as storms approach
Peak heatwave temperatures complicate southwestern firefighting as storms approach France.
Event / Disaster
France Heat Wave Wildfire Crisis
France experiences multiple heat waves during summer 2026, with temperatures exceeding 40°C in southwestern regions, complicating ongoing wildfire firefighting efforts and creating public health challenges.
4 reported locations
Daily activity
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2026-08-14 to 2026-11-11 · UTC publication dates
Coverage begins 23 Jul, 12:16 UTC
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What happened
Extreme temperatures forecast to reach 42-43°C in southwestern France on July 29
Peak heatwave intensity is expected on Wednesday, July 29, with temperatures reaching approximately 40°C from Nouvelle-Aquitaine to Île-de-France, and localized peaks between 42-43°C in southwestern France. Orange and red heat alert levels are anticipated across multiple regions.
Tropical nights expected across three-quarters of France during early August heatwave
Tropical nights with temperatures remaining above 20°C overnight are forecast to generalize across three-quarters of French territory starting the weekend of August 1-2. Average temperatures are expected to reach approximately 26°C day and night combined across the entire country.
Historic soil drought in southwestern France increases wildfire risk
Exceptional soil dryness in Gironde and Landes departments creates conditions conducive to rapid fire propagation. The Mistral and Tramontane winds, blowing across the Mediterranean coast early in the week of July 28, compound the wildfire risk significantly. Forest fires are occurring at unprecedented scale and may worsen during the heatwave.
Record temperatures and successive heatwaves expected through early August
Temperatures could reach record levels in a succession of heatwaves without precedent. The heatwave initially expected to end August 3-4 is now forecast to persist until approximately August 7-8 based on latest modeling. This represents an unprecedented chain of successive extreme heat episodes.
Fourth heatwave of 2026 forecasted for France starting July 28
France is experiencing its fourth major heatwave of 2026. Météo France forecasts the heatwave will begin on Tuesday, July 28, with temperatures rising 5-7 degrees above seasonal averages. Southern regions will be affected first, with temperatures exceeding 35°C by Tuesday and potentially reaching 40°C in southwestern areas from Wednesday onward.
Localized storms expected in France from Thursday onward
Starting Thursday, July 30, localized thunderstorms are anticipated across French territory, with potential for more violent storms on Friday and Saturday.
France enters fourth heat wave of summer with peak temperatures Wednesday
France is experiencing a new heat wave beginning Tuesday, July 28, 2026, with peak intensity on Wednesday, July 29. This is the fourth episode of intense heat in summer 2026 and the 54th national heat wave since 1947. Temperatures will reach 32-35°C across much of the country, with 36-37°C in the southwest. Wednesday will see the peak with temperatures reaching 38°C in Paris and Tours, 36°C in Lyon and Grenoble, and up to 40°C in the southwest. The heat wave is expected to last through the weekend of August 1-2.
Heat wave will complicate firefighting efforts in southwestern France
The rising temperatures from the heat wave are expected to impede firefighting efforts in the southwest and southeast regions of France, where multiple wildfires are currently burning in Gironde and the Landes.
Over half of France's 53 recorded heatwaves occurred after 2010
Since systematic temperature measurements began in France in 1947, more than half of the 53 heatwaves recorded have occurred after 2010, indicating an acceleration in heatwave frequency consistent with climate change.
June 2026 heatwave was most intense on record for France
A previous heatwave in France from June 17-30, 2026 was the most intense heatwave ever recorded in the country, with a national thermal indicator reaching 30°C. The combined severity index (measuring both duration and intensity) for this June heatwave was 51.1, second only to the August 2003 heatwave's index of 59.4.
July 1983 heatwave remains France's longest on record at 23 days
The longest heatwave ever recorded in France occurred in July 1983 and lasted 23 days. The second-longest heatwave occurred in July 2006 and lasted 21 days. These records have stood since measurements began in 1947.
National temperature indicator reaches 28.1°C during July heatwave
During the July 2026 heatwave, France's national thermal indicator (ITN), which measures average temperature across 30 reference stations nationwide, reached 28.1°C, approximately 7.2°C above seasonal norms. This represents the 53rd heatwave recorded in France since measurements began in 1947.
France experiences third-longest heatwave on record lasting 16 days
France experienced a heatwave lasting 16 days from July 4-19, 2026, which ranks as the third-longest heatwave ever recorded in the country since measurements began in 1947. This was the third heatwave to occur in France within less than two months in 2026. It tied with previous heatwaves from August 2003, July-August 2018, and June-July 2025, all lasting 16 days.
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2 alternative perspectives
Southwestern France faces severe wildfire risk amid historic drought
Historic southwestern France drought dramatically elevates wildfire risk amid extreme heat.
Fourth heatwave to bring 42-43°C peaks, tropical nights across France
Fourth heatwave hits France July 28 with 42-43°C temperatures and widespread tropical nights.
France's heatwave frequency surges: over half occurring since 2010
France's heatwave frequency has accelerated since 2010, marking a long-term climate shift.
France records third-longest heatwave, June marks most intense on record
France experienced record-breaking June heatwave and third-longest 16-day heat event in 2026.