France Under Heatwave and Thunderstorm Vigilance: Six Departments in Orange Alert for Heat

Météo-France has placed 38 departments under weather vigilance on Monday, August 17, 2026, primarily due to heatwave and thunderstorms. Six departments in the southeast (Ardèche, Var, Gard, Bouches-du-Rhône, Vaucluse, and Drôme) are under Orange vigilance for heatwave, with temperatures reaching 34 to 38°C in Mediterranean regions and the Rhône valley. An additional 18 departments are under Yellow vigilance for heat. Meanwhile, 32 departments in the eastern part of the country are under Yellow vigilance for locally windy thunderstorms.