A third of France is on maximum alert for extreme heat, as forecasters warned of a prolonged heatwave that could see temperatures in Paris soar above 40C for the first time on a June day.
France's weather service has placed 35 of the country's 101 departments on red alert for heat from midday Sunday, the highest number to be put on its maximum warning since the system was introduced more than 20 years ago.
"This is a significant development and it could last for several days," Météo France forecaster Adrien Warnan told RFI.
"We are truly in uncharted territory for France, and indeed in the history of weather monitoring at Météo France in general."
The red alert, which requires authorities to take emergency precautions to protect the public, extends over the entire greater Paris region and down into the south-west.
Another 45 departments are on orange heatwave alert, the second-highest warning.
Ten north-central departments were also on alert for violent storms forecast to arrive on Saturday evening.
The heatwave, which extends over much of western Europe, is already the second of the year, after a scorching week in May broke records across the continent.
Parallels with 2003
In France, temperatures have already been high for several days and are expected to climb further, as Météo France warns that some areas could hit 40C or higher.
"Sunday and Monday could be among the hottest days ever recorded across France," the weather service said.
The heat is forecast to last well into next week. Météo France said temperatures would not peak so much as plateau, with "maximum and minimum temperatures remaining at an extremely high level" until Thursday.
Meteorologists have warned that the heatwave bears similarities to France's worst hot spell on record in August 2003, when nearly 15,000 people died.
"This 2026 heatwave could be of the same duration and severity," Météo France climatologist Matthieu Sorel told reporters.
Like in 2003, temperatures will remain high even at night, experts predict, in some urban areas failing to drop below 25C.
Events cancelled, alcohol banned
In Paris, where humidity is expected to contribute to "real feel" temperatures of up to 44C on Sunday, city authorities have activated emergency measures including opening parks throughout the night.
The prefect of police has instructed organisers to cancel a dozen outdoor sports events planned for the weekend.
Mayor Emmanuel Grégoire said on Saturday that Fête de la Musique, the free all-night festival celebrated every 21 June, would go ahead in the capital – but several other local authorities across France have cancelled or scaled back concerts.
Public consumption of alcohol will also be banned in areas subject to the red alert, including Paris.
"Prefects will issue decrees banning alcohol consumption in public spaces in the departments under red alert," the government announced after an emergency meeting on Saturday morning, saying the measure was necessary "to preserve emergency and healthcare services and allow medical staff to focus on caring for the most vulnerable".
The UK, Spain, Switzerland and Germany have all also raised alert levels for the coming days, as have some cities in northern and central Italy.
Scientists say human-driven climate change is amplifying such extremes, with extreme heat, droughts and floods becoming more intense and frequent.
(with newswires)
