Météo France placed 72 departments under red vigilance for a heatwave on Thursday, June 25, 2026 [1].
This record-high alert level signals an unprecedented weather event that threatens public health and increases the risk of catastrophic wildfires across the country.
The red alert status expanded on Thursday to include 14 new departments [2]. This follows a Wednesday where 58 departments were already under the highest level of vigilance [3]. The affected regions include the Ardennes, Marne, Haute-Marne, Meuse, Meurthe-et-Moselle, Moselle, Bas-Rhin, Haut-Rhin, Vosges, Territoire de Belfort, Haute-Saône, Doubs, Jura, and Loire [1].
Temperatures have reached 40°C in 50 different departments [3]. Météo France said the heatwave is unprecedented and poses serious health risks to the population.
Beyond the immediate health threat, the extreme heat has fueled dangerous fire conditions. In Maine-et-Loire, nearly 100 hectares of forest burned [3]. Authorities said they continue to monitor fire risks as the heat persists across the region.
While the majority of the country is now under red alert, 17 departments remain under orange vigilance [1]. The meteorological agency said it continues to track the heatwave as it moves through various regions, including Lorraine, Alsace, and Bourgogne.
“72 French departments were placed under red vigilance for the heatwave, a record-high level.”
The scale of this alert indicates a systemic failure of previous heat-mitigation benchmarks in France. By placing 72 departments under red vigilance—a record high—the government is acknowledging that current infrastructure and public health protocols are being pushed to their limits by an unprecedented thermal event.
