France has been experiencing an extended heatwave since early August 2025, with multiple departments placed under varying levels of heat alerts by Météo-France. Initially, up to 16 departments were placed under red vigilance, indicating extreme heat, with temperatures surpassing 40°C in the southwest and record highs such as 43°C in Gironde and 42.1°C in Angoulême. Over the following days, the number of departments under red vigilance was reduced to five by August 13, primarily in the Centre-Est and Aude regions, while the majority of the country remained under orange vigilance. The heatwave was accompanied by increasing thunderstorm alerts, with up to 75 departments under yellow vigilance for storms by mid-August. By August 14, the red vigilance was lifted entirely, but 75 to 80 departments remained on orange alert, with temperatures still elevated and risks of wildfires rising. The heatwave continued to ease gradually, with 54 departments still under orange vigilance as of August 16, although an improvement in weather conditions was expected. The persistent heat has prompted ongoing warnings about fire risks and the potential for new heat peaks during the weekend of August 15.