France swelters under second June heatwave as 35 departments placed on red alert
A second heatwave in three weeks has placed 35 departments on red alert, with temperatures forecast to reach 40°C in the west and centre by early next week.
Intensifying heatwave
Most of France is again enduring scorching temperatures, three weeks after a first heatwave swept the country. On June 20, the mercury hit 35°C in many urban areas, accompanied by a weak but hot southerly wind and a UV index of 8. The national weather service has now placed 35 departments under red alert, the highest warning level, effective Sunday June 21. Another 45 departments are expected to face lower-tier alerts. The worst is forecast for the beginning of the week, with peak temperatures of 40°C possible in the west and centre, between the Garonne and Loire rivers.
- Temperatures reach 35°C in many urban areas, UV index 8. Second heatwave in three weeks.
- Red alert activated for 35 departments; 45 more on lower alerts.
- Forecast peak of 40°C expected in western and central France.
Political criticism
The recurring heatwaves have drawn sharp political reactions. Marine Tondelier, leader of the Ecologist party (EELV), took to X on Saturday to condemn what she called the result of prolonged failure.
It is the result of decades of inaction, climate denial and the manufacture of doubt.
The remark echoes an earlier, widely ridiculed comment by President Emmanuel Macron. During his New Year’s address in December 2022, he asked, "Who could have predicted the climate crisis with its spectacular effects?" The quote has resurfaced in the press as a symbol of official unpreparedness.
The adaptation stalemate
Economist Charles Dennery, in an interview with Le Figaro, argues that France must break a longstanding taboo on air conditioning. He contends that passive building adaptation, insulation, shading, natural ventilation, will not suffice to protect the most vulnerable populations as heatwaves multiply. The refusal to embrace air conditioning, encouraged by some ecological discourse, risks leaving the elderly and those in poorly insulated social housing exposed. A separate analysis by LesEchos notes that each new heatwave still catches citizens, local officials and employers off guard, raising questions about why adaptation measures have lagged.
Frictions at street level
At the neighbourhood level, the heat is triggering tensions over illegal cooling methods. In late May, the town of Asnières (Hauts-de-Seine) sent invoices of €1,000 to two families whose children were caught opening fire hydrants, a forbidden practice. The same report mentions another municipality that is testing a simple alternative to hydrant openings, aiming to offer young residents a safe way to cool down without the fines and water waste. The episode highlights how poorly insulated housing in working-class areas magnifies the impact of extreme heat.
