France grapples with second heatwave as SNCF cancels 71 trains and schools prepare to close

Heatwave intensifies across France

A second major heatwave of 2026 settled over much of France on Thursday, with 26 departments placed on orange alert, the second-highest warning level. The national weather agency Météo-France expects the heat to persist into next week, peaking on Sunday or Monday when temperatures could reach 40°C locally, including in Paris. The previous day, thermometers in the southeastern Drome and southern Tarn departments had already hit 37°C.

Authorities have urged residents to be "very cautious" and to drink plenty of water. In Paris, swimming was authorised under lifeguard supervision in the Canal Saint-Martin, with mayor Emmanuel Gregoire posting on social media: "Take advantage of it, and stay safe in the heat."

Trains cancelled to prevent AC failures

Rail operator SNCF announced it would scrub 71 Intercités services from Thursday through Monday, targeting midday departures on three main corridors: Paris–Orléans–Limoges–Toulouse (31 cancellations), Paris–Clermont-Ferrand (19), and the southern cross-country route Bordeaux–Marseille (21). The decision, the company said, was taken "to prevent potential air-conditioning breakdowns linked to very high temperatures."

There was no air conditioning. It was truly horrific, everyone was moving around trying to find a little air.

The axed trains represent about 0.1% of SNCF Voyageurs’ daily operations, but on the affected lines the cuts are steep: only 60–75% of the normal schedule will run on Thursday and Friday, and barely half of the Bordeaux–Marseille services will operate over the weekend.

Ageing infrastructure struggles in high temperatures

The trains plying these routes are Corail stock, in service for an average of 40 years, whose air-conditioning systems cannot cope with extreme heat and risk failing mid-journey. Last month, a Paris–Clermont-Ferrand train was stranded on the tracks without cooling during a scorching spell; passengers were forced to disembark and arrived nearly eight hours late.

Heat also warps the rails. Because steel can reach 55–60°C when the air temperature is 37°C, tracks can expand and deform, making it unsafe to run trains at normal speed. Overhead copper catenary wires are similarly affected: they dilate and may snap, sometimes paralysing a line for hours. SNCF says pulleys and counterweights keep the wires taut, but teams remain mobilised to monitor the network in real time.

The rails can easily reach 60 degrees. In that case, they can slightly deform.

School closures loom as mayors weigh options

With many school buildings poorly equipped for extreme heat, mayors across the country are deciding whether to suspend classes. In Paris, about ten middle schools had already adjusted timetables for Thursday and Friday. National education minister Edouard Geffray said earlier this week that oral and vocational baccalauréat exams could be postponed in some towns.

Mayor Emmanuel Denis of Tours in the Loire Valley was blunt: "At 40 degrees, I’ll close the schools." Last June, a heatwave forced the closure of roughly 2,200 schools nationwide.

A pattern of more frequent heatwaves

This is France’s second heatwave of 2026, following an unusually hot spell in May that shattered records across half the country. Climatologist Matthieu Sorel of Météo-France said the country is experiencing "heatwaves that are increasingly frequent, more widespread and more intense – a clear sign of climate change."

Heatwaves that are increasingly frequent, more widespread and more intense — a clear sign of climate change.

While astronomical summer does not begin until Sunday, the solstice will bring extended sunshine, reinforcing the temperature rise. SNCF has for years promised to adapt rolling stock and infrastructure to withstand a hotter climate, but the Corail fleet, long overdue for replacement, remains in service.