French heatwave sets late-summer temperature record

Milady beach in Biarritz, south-western France, on August 23, as the heatwave sweeps across the country. AFP

A heatwave across France brought an all-time high temperature for late summer on Tuesday, the weather authority said.

Before a peak in the August hot spell expected in the second half of the week, the nationwide average temperature over 24 hours hit 26.9°C, Meteo France announced Wednesday.

Such continuously high temperatures have never been recorded so late in summer, the weather bureau said.

Monday had already brought temperatures topping the previous 26.6°C record set in 2012.

Nineteen of mainland France's 96 departments were on red alert for heat on Wednesday, with 37 others at the lower orange warning level.

"A lasting and intense heatwave is in place across the southern two thirds of the country," Meteo France said.

Maximum temperatures in southern regions including the Rhone valley, the Occitanie region bordering Spain and the Aquitaine region around Bordeaux could reach 42°C, the authority said.

Southern France wildfire - in pictures

French firefighters survey a house destroyed by wildfire in Saint-Andre, near Argeles-sur-Mer. All photos: AFP

Officials on Tuesday said the villages of Saint-Andre, Sorede and the town of Argeles were in the path of approaching wildfires. AFP

A scorched campsite in Saint-Andre. AFP

Fire spread across 500 hectares in the Pyrenees-Orientales region. AFP

Survivors who fled are being housed in temporary accommodation. AFP

More than 3,000 tourists have been evacuated from campsites. AFP

The smouldering remains of a house in the aftermath of the fire. AFP

Firefighters inspect the damage. AFP

A firefighter douses the flames. AFP

Meteo France said much of the south would see temperatures coming close to or touching 40°C on Thursday, with minimum temperatures passing 20°C.

While the south is bearing the brunt of the heatwave, the north is not escaping weather-related misery altogether.

Parts of the north-west – although not Brittany – were being placed on orange alert from midnight on Wednesday for risk of severe gales accompanied by hailstorms and heavy rain.

Meteo France warned of wind gusts reaching 100kph.