France Braces for Record June Heat as 60 Departments Remain on Alert
France is bracing for its second heatwave of 2026 with more than half the country on orange alert and temperatures forecast to exceed 40C in Paris for the first time in June, while parts of the US face flash flooding and wildfire conditions.
France Issues Widespread Heatwave Alerts
France's weather service has placed 60 of 101 departments on orange heatwave alert for Saturday and Sunday, with ten north-central departments also alerted for violent storms. [1] Temperatures could reach 40C or higher on Sunday and Monday, potentially among the hottest days ever recorded in France, with the heat persisting at high levels until Thursday and nights failing to cool below 25C in urban areas. [1] More than half of France is on alert for extreme heat, as forecasters warned of an intense and long-lasting heatwave that could see temperatures in Paris soar above 40C for the first time on a June day. [1] The heatwave is already the second of the year, after a scorching week in May broke records across the continent. [1] In Paris, where humidity is expected to contribute to real feel temperatures of up to 44C on Sunday, the alerts cover the period through the weekend and into the following days with maximum and minimum temperatures remaining at an extremely high level until Thursday. [1] Ten north-central departments were also on alert for violent storms forecast to arrive on Saturday evening. [1] Météo France said temperatures would not peak so much as plateau, with maximum and minimum temperatures remaining at an extremely high level until Thursday. [1] The current heatwave follows a record-breaking hot week in May. [1]
Parallels to the Deadly 2003 Heatwave
The heatwave, which extends over much of western Europe, bears similarities to the deadly 2003 heatwave that killed nearly 15,000 in France. [1] 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. [1] This 2026 heatwave could be of the same duration and severity, Météo France climatologist Matthieu Sorel told reporters. [1] Like in 2003, temperatures will remain high even at night, experts predict, in some urban areas failing to drop below 25C. [1] Sunday and Monday could be among the hottest days ever recorded across France, the weather service said. [1] The heat is forecast to last well into next week. [1] Parallels with 2003 have been drawn because the current event could match the earlier one in duration and severity. [1]
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Emergency Measures and Event Cancellations in Paris
In Paris, city authorities have activated emergency measures including opening parks throughout the night. [1] The prefect of police has instructed organisers to cancel a dozen outdoor sports events planned for the weekend. [1] 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 in the greater Paris region and beyond have cancelled or scaled back concerts. [1] The government is not considering cancelling the event nationally, Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said after ministers held an emergency meeting on the heatwave on Saturday morning. [1] Parisians cool off in the Canal Saint-Martin on 17 June 2026 amid the rising temperatures. [1]
Broader European Heat and Climate Context
The heatwave extends over much of western Europe including the UK, Spain, Switzerland, Germany and parts of Italy. [1] 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. [1] Scientists attribute the increasing intensity and frequency of such extremes to human-driven climate change, which is causing Europe to warm twice as fast as the global average. [1] Scientists say human-driven climate change is amplifying such extremes, with extreme heat, droughts and floods becoming more intense and frequent. [1] Why is Europe heating twice as fast as the rest of the planet? [1] El Nino threat grows as Europe prepares for another hot summer. [1]
US Flash Flood Warnings in Texas and Louisiana
In the US, flash flood warnings remain in effect for parts of northeastern Texas and Louisiana after 2-6 inches of rain fell. [2] [5] Flash Flood Warning for Southern Cherokee County in northeastern Texas until 1115 AM CDT, where between 3 and 6 inches of rain have fallen this morning with additional rainfall amounts up to 1 inch possible. [2] Flash Flood Warning for Northeastern Franklin Parish, Southwestern Morehouse Parish, Richland Parish and Southern West Carroll Parish in northeastern Louisiana until 1000 AM CDT, where between 2 and 3 inches of rain have fallen. [5] At 849 AM CDT, Doppler radar and automated rain gauges indicated thunderstorms producing moderate rain that continues across the warned area in Texas. [2] At 832 AM CDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing heavy rain across the warned area in Louisiana. [5] Flash flooding is ongoing or expected in the affected zones. [2] [5]
Red Flag Fire Weather Alerts Across Utah
Red Flag Warnings for fire weather cover the Salt Lake Desert and large areas of Utah due to low humidity, gusty winds and dry thunderstorms. [3] [4] Red Flag Warning for Fire Weather Zone 478 Salt Lake Desert from 2 PM this afternoon to 10 PM MDT this evening, with widely scattered dry thunderstorms expected across northwest Utah this afternoon and early evening and gusty and erratic outflow winds in excess of 40 mph. [3] Red Flag Warning for Fire Weather Zone 482 Western Uintah Basin, Fire Weather Zone 484 Tavaputs Plateau, Fire Weather Zone 488 Manti National Forest, Fire Weather Zone 489 San Rafael Swell, Fire Weather Zone 493 Central Utah Mountains, Fire Weather Zone 494 Henry Mountains, Fire Weather Zone 496 Color Country Mountains and Fire Weather Zone 498 Grand Staircase, with winds west 10 to 20 mph with gusts up to 35 mph and relative humidity falling into the 7 to 12 percent range this afternoon. [4] The Fire Weather Watch is no longer in effect for the Salt Lake Desert zone. [3]
What to watch next: Temperatures are expected to climb on Sunday and into Monday with the heat forecast to last well into next week and flash flood warnings extended until mid-morning while Red Flag Warnings remain in effect through the evening in Utah zones.
