Twelve departments placed on orange thunderstorm alert, twenty others under heatwave warning.

Météo-France has placed twelve departments on an orange thunderstorm alert, warning of significant electrical activity, heavy hail, strong wind gusts, and very intense precipitation. Simultaneously, twenty other departments in the eastern half of France remain under an orange heatwave warning. The alerts are in effect as a severe weather system moves across the country, bringing contrasting conditions of violent storms and extreme heat. The agency's forecasts highlight the risk of localized flooding, property damage from hail, and potential disruption to transport and power supplies. The heatwave, which has persisted for several days, continues to pose health risks, particularly for vulnerable populations. Local authorities have been urged to take precautionary measures, and residents in affected areas are advised to stay indoors and avoid travel during the worst of the weather.

Global Impact

The dual alerts highlight the increasing frequency of extreme weather events in Europe, driven by climate change, which is straining national weather services and emergency response systems. Economically, the storms and heatwave could cause localized damage to infrastructure and agriculture, with insurance payouts potentially reaching tens of millions of euros.