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France has closed over 800 schools and put half the country on its maximum weather alert as temperatures rise toward record highs. Forecasters warn this heatwave could be as severe as the 2003 event that killed nearly 15,000 people.
Meteo-France forecasted afternoon highs of 43 degrees Celsius (109 degrees Fahrenheit) in Bordeaux and 39 degrees Celsius in Paris. This is the first time the highest heat warning has covered so much of France in one day.
Out of about 60,000 schools in France, over 800 closed completely on Monday and another 1,800 changed their schedules, according to the education ministry. Before this, some schools had already asked parents to keep children at home or pick them up at midday to avoid hot classrooms.
A primary school teacher from the Bordeaux area, who did not want to be named, said her classroom was dangerously hot last week.
"Last week, it was 32 °C in the classroom for the children," she said. She also pointed out that nearby air-conditioned shops stayed cool, but schools did not offer the same comfort.
Her comments highlight a wider worry among teachers that French schools are not prepared for extreme heat. Many schools do not have air conditioning, and there is no law requiring it.
The heat could also disrupt public transport in Paris. Local officials warned commuters about possible delays and breakdowns because the rail system is not designed to operate above 50 °C.
Valerie Pecresse, who heads the Paris region, said the transport system would "suffer enormously" in this heat. She added that air conditioning in train cars would not be enough during rush hour if it reaches 40 °C.
Officials asked people in Paris to stay home on Monday morning if they could.
This is France’s second heatwave in 2026, following a record-breaking warm spell in May. These back-to-back events have raised questions about how well France is prepared for heat emergencies.
Scientists say there is a clear link between more frequent and severe heatwaves and global warming, mainly caused by burning coal, oil, and gas. Meteo-France reports that out of 51 heatwaves in France since 1947, 34 have happened since 2000 and 26 since 2011.
The 2003 heatwave remains the benchmark for extreme heat in western Europe. That summer, France, Italy, Portugal, and Spain all experienced unusually high temperatures for an extended period. Studies estimate that over 70,000 people died in 16 countries, making it one of the deadliest weather events in modern European history.
Since the 2003 disaster, French officials have changed their heat emergency plans. However, this week’s heatwave is the first time the highest alert has been used across such a large area.
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