France, suffocated by the third wave of heatwave: fires, blocked rail transport and affected nuclear reactors

The third heatwave of this year reached its peak in France on Sunday, causing vegetation fires, disruption of rail transport and reduction of production of nuclear plants. According to AFP and the meteorological service Meteo-France, the extreme temperatures will continue at the beginning of the week, affecting millions of people. According to Meteo-France, 37 departments were placed under code red for heatwave on Sunday and Monday, the highest level of alert. The affected area forms a triangle between Tarn, in the south, Val-d'Oise, in the north, and Morbihan, in the west. According to an AFP calculation based on data from the National Institute of Statistics of France, around 26 million people are affected by this alert, including the entire Île-de-France region. Temperatures exceeded the threshold of 40 degrees Celsius in many regions. Meteo-France recorded highs of 42.3 degrees Celsius in the Landes department and 41.8 degrees Celsius in Saintes, in Charente-Maritime.

• Fires block motorways and the Paris-Lyon TGV line

The heat wave is accompanied by an extreme risk of wildfires. In the Seine-et-Marne department, two major fires broke out near the city of Melun, causing the closure of the A5 and A6 motorways, as well as the suspension of traffic on the Paris-Lyon high-speed line. SNCF Reseau said, according to AFP, that many trains were redirected to avoid the area affected by the fire, near Châtelet-en-Brie. The disruptions caused delays of several hours, and many passengers were stranded at the Gare de Lyon in Paris.

• Heat reduces the production of nuclear power plants

The high temperatures have also affected the energy sector. Due to the limits imposed by environmental protection regulations on the temperature of water discharged into rivers and the sea, three nuclear reactors have stopped production, and seven others are operating at reduced power. The measures aim to limit the impact on aquatic ecosystems, given that the reactors use water for cooling systems.

• Tour de France, adapted to extreme temperatures

The heat wave also affected the development of the Tour de France. Organizers reduced Sunday's stage between Malemort and Ussel, in the Corrèze department, by approximately 30 kilometers, where temperatures approached 40 degrees Celsius. The final route was 155.5 kilometers long. Monday is reserved for cyclists to rest, and organizers are again analyzing the possibility of future stages starting earlier to avoid the hours with maximum temperatures.

• Tropical nights and safety measures before National Day

The heat wave is also manifested during the night. According to Meteo-France, at 5:00 a.m., temperatures were 26 degrees Celsius in Bordeaux, 25 degrees Celsius in Rennes, Lorient, Angoulême and Le Mans, 24 degrees Celsius in Toulouse, Nantes and Tours and 23 degrees Celsius in Paris. In view of the national holiday on July 14, the Paris Police Prefecture canceled traditional balls organized in the fire brigade barracks, as well as several sports competitions. French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez told BFMTV that the fires had already affected about 17,000 hectares of forest. According to authorities' estimates, the total area burned could reach 25,000 hectares, almost twice as much as in the same period in 2025. The official also drew attention to the increase in drowning accidents, which have caused 139 deaths since June 19, more than 18% more than in the same period last year.

• Climate change intensifies heatwave episodes

According to Meteo-France, the current episode represents the second official heatwave of 2026, after the one in late June and early July. However, meteorologists emphasize that the exceptional heatwave in May also had unprecedented characteristics for the season. Specialists believe that the increasing frequency and intensity of heatwaves is one of the most obvious consequences of climate change. According to experts cited by AFP, global warming, fueled mainly by emissions from the burning of fossil fuels, amplifies the risks to the health of the population, infrastructure and ecosystems.