PARIS: A severe heatwave continued across southern France on Monday, with six departments remaining under an orange weather warning as temperatures were forecast to approach 39°C, according to Meteo-France.
Aude, Herault, Gard, Vaucluse, Drome and Ardeche remained under the warning, while temperatures across much of southern France stayed above 20°C early Monday.
Nice recorded 26°C, while Montpellier reached 23°C. Meanwhile, Nimes and Montelimar registered temperatures of 21°C.
Daytime temperatures were expected to climb between 35°C and 38°C across southeastern France, with some locations potentially reaching 39°C.
Durban-Corbieres Sets New September Heat Record
Several locations recorded unprecedented September temperatures on Sunday as the intense heat continued.
Durban-Corbieres in Aude reached 40.8°C, setting a new national September temperature record.
Moreover, Albi recorded 39.2°C, Auch reached 38.4°C and Toulouse-Blagnac registered 37.9°C. Marseille-Marignane recorded 36.8°C, while Aurillac reached 34°C.
Meteo-France expects conditions to ease slightly on Tuesday before temperatures fall substantially on Wednesday.
Rain and Thunderstorms Expected to Bring Relief
The national weather service said a band of rain and thunderstorms would move across the affected region, bringing cooler conditions.
Consequently, authorities expect to lift the orange heatwave warnings across all six departments on Tuesday morning.
The latest episode follows several periods of extreme heat across France this year.
A late-June heatwave reached record intensity, while another prolonged spell stretching from late July into August lasted 23 days.
That episode matched France’s longest recorded heatwave, previously set in 1983, highlighting an unusually intense year of sustained high temperatures across the country.
