France is experiencing extreme weather and wildfires in vineyards

• The temperature reached 43 °C in southwestern France.
• The red alert level has been in effect for 12 departments.
• Firefighters are controlling large wildfires in the vineyards.

The heatwave has engulfed southwestern France in recent days, pushing temperatures to 43 degrees Celsius in the areas of Charente and Odo. In Odo, where vineyards and Mediterranean vegetation are located, firefighters remain on the scene, battling a major wildfire that burned 16,000 hectares last week. Officials report that the fire is contained, but warn that it will not be fully extinguished for several weeks, as hot spots still smolder.

The national meteorological service Meteo-France has issued a red alert for 12 departments, the highest warning level for heat, predicting extreme temperatures from the Atlantic coast to the Mediterranean regions. Another 41 departments were under orange alerts, as well as neighboring microstates like Andorra.

Social media shows deserted streets in Valence, residents closing windows with foil to reflect the light, while tourists are hiding under parasols along the Garonne in Toulouse. Throughout the south, cafes remain empty, as people search for cooler places in the city centers.

The red alert level has only been issued eight times since its creation in 2004 after deadly heatwaves. It is designated for extreme, prolonged heat with significant risks to health and potential disruption of daily life. This allows local authorities to cancel outdoor events, close public facilities, and modify school or summer camp schedules.

The heatwave, which has become the second of this summer, began on Friday and is expected to last throughout the week, including the holiday weekend of August 15. The temperature is already expected to rise to the upper 30s in the Center-Val-de-Loire region and up to 34 °C in Paris.

Tags: Europe/Weather