France experienced an intense heatwave in mid-August 2025, with up to 54 departments placed under orange heat vigilance on August 16. The number of departments under orange alert gradually decreased over the following days, dropping to 25 on August 17, 13 on August 18, and finally seven departments remaining under orange vigilance by August 18 and 19. By August 19, the heatwave ended with no departments under orange heat alert. Concurrently, six departments, including Aude, were placed under red vigilance for forest fires. Following the heatwave, heavy rains and storms affected several regions, particularly in the south and east. On August 19, four departments—Hérault, Gard, Lozère, and Côtes d'Armor—were placed under orange vigilance for storms and flooding, with the possibility of extending this alert to other departments. By August 20, eleven departments in central and eastern France remained under orange vigilance for rain and flooding. The weather shift brought intense localized rainfall from Brittany to the Grand Est and a significant drop in temperatures. Despite the severity of the 2025 heatwave, Météo-France indicated that, except for the southwest, it was not comparable to the 2003 heatwave. Restrictions due to drought conditions persisted in 78 departments after the heatwave. The situation reflects a rapid transition from extreme heat to stormy and wet conditions across much of France.