Scorching heat continued to spread across most of mainland France on Wednesday, as the Ministry for Ecological Transition met to take stock of the effects of a drought that has been steadily worsening since May.
Issued on: 12/08/2026 - 13:38
3 min Reading time
Seventy-eight departments across mainland France have been placed on orange heatwave alert from midday. "On Wednesday the heat intensifies further and heatwave conditions continue to gain ground: maximum temperatures will range from 36°C to 39°C in the departments on orange alert," national forecaster Météo-France said in its 6am bulletin. Only a sliver of the north-east and a few high-altitude areas will be spared.
Meteo France alerts for Wednesday, 12 August. © Screenshot Meteo France
