New Météo France canicule warning as temps reach 42°C

The orange warning level is the second-most severe, with the official advice to be “very vigilant”.

The level - including high temperatures and heavy humidity - is currently expected to be in place from today until at least 21h on Thursday this week.

The advice also warns residents to spend at least three hours’ a day somewhere cool, to keep yourself and your skin cool with water several times’ a day, to drink frequently even if you don’t feel thirsty, and to avoid going out in the hottest hours of the day.

The departments affected are Alpes-de-Haute-Provence (04), Hautes-Alpes (05), Alpes-Maritimes (06), Ardèche (07), Bouches-du-Rhône (13), Corse-du-Sud (2A), Haute-Corse (2B), Drôme (26), Isère (38), Rhône (69), Var (83) et Vaucluse (84).

The region has been extremely hot in the past few days, with official figures showing temperatures of 42°C in Sartene, 41°C in Carpentras, 39°C in Cap Corse, 37°C in Avignon and more than 36°C in the Vallée du Rhône.