France battles heatwave health strain and weekend thunderstorms

The French heatwave, with temperatures reaching 36 °C–38 °C, prompted the government to shift several departments from red to orange vigilance. Health officials warned that, despite the gradual cooling, the strain on hospitals would persist for days due to dehydration, delayed complications and a surge in emergency‑room visits. The Prime Minister’s office reported a 36 % rise in ER admissions and a rise in deaths, mainly among the elderly at home.

Météo‑France also issued orange storm alerts for up to a dozen departments, forecasting violent thunderstorms over the weekend. The storms are linked to a “Spanish plume” pattern that can produce gusts over 100 km/h, hail and heavy rain across a broad diagonal from the southwest to the northeast. Authorities advised the public to stay indoors, secure outdoor objects and follow local warnings.

National and regional health agencies have activated emergency response plans, while local services continue to mobilise water stations, cooling centres and public information hotlines to protect vulnerable populations.