A severe heatwave has been affecting southern France since Friday, August 8, 2025, with a rapid expansion of departments under heat alerts. Initially, 11 departments were placed under orange vigilance for heat, which increased to 28 on Saturday and then to 42 on Sunday. By Monday, the number of departments under orange vigilance rose to 46, with 12 departments in the southwest region elevated to red vigilance, indicating a higher level of heat risk. Temperatures have reached unprecedented levels, with several records broken, including 43°C in parts of Charente and Aude, 42.1°C in Angoulême, 41.6°C in Bordeaux, and 41.5°C in Saint-Emilion. The Rhône, Isère, Drôme, and Ardèche departments are expected to enter red vigilance starting Tuesday midday, bringing the total to 14 or 16 departments in red vigilance depending on the source. Météo-France forecasts that the heatwave will persist through the week, with temperatures frequently reaching or exceeding 40°C, particularly in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region and the southwest. The government and health authorities have issued warnings and called for national solidarity and vigilance, especially for vulnerable populations. Public outdoor events have been banned in some areas like Gironde, and fire risk remains high with 29 departments under elevated forest fire risk. The heatwave is described as exceptional for August, with the Mediterranean Sea temperature near Nice recorded at 27°C. The heatwave is expected to last until at least August 17, 2025.