Living in France During a Heat Wave: The Practical Guide

You live in France or stay here for long periods, and you often work from home. This article helps you read Météo-France's alert levels, keep your home bearable, adjust your schedule and outings, find a cool place, and know who to call in case of a health emergency.

Understanding Heat Waves and Météo-France Alerts

“Heat wave” is a general term. It refers to a period when temperatures may pose a health risk to the population, and it covers heat peaks, persistent hot spells, and heatwaves (canicule)^[1].

Météo-France signals danger with four alert levels:

• Green: seasonal watch, no particular alert^[2].
• Yellow: heat peak, meaning 1 to 2 days of intense heat that poses a health risk due to working conditions or physical activity^[2].
• Orange: heatwave period, with intense and lasting heat that may pose a health risk to the entire exposed population^[1].
• Red: extreme heatwave, exceptional in its duration, intensity and geographic extent, with a strong health impact on the entire population^[2].

To check the situation where you are, consult the alert level for your department on the Météo-France vigilance website^[3].

Adapting Your Home to the Heat

Without air conditioning, the most effective step is to manage openings. Close shutters, blinds and windows when the heat comes in, and open them early in the morning, in the evening or at night when the outside air is cooler^[3].

If possible, create cross-ventilation and limit indoor heat sources^[3].

Also avoid adding pollution sources to your home, such as indoor fragrances and tobacco^[3].

Reduce the number of cleaning products you use and avoid sprays. To avoid stirring up dust, prefer damp mops, microfiber cloths, or a vacuum cleaner fitted with a HEPA filter^[3].

Adapting Your Work Rhythm

Move exercise, gardening, DIY and non-essential trips to the coolest hours of the day^[3]. For a remote worker, this means scheduling calls and physical tasks or errands early in the morning or in the evening, and staying indoors during the hottest hours.

If you are an employee in France, your employer has obligations. Since July 1, 2025, a decree of May 27, 2025 requires employers to take measures against intense heat episodes^[2]. An “intense heat episode” means reaching the threshold of yellow, orange or red alert levels^[2].

These measures include adapting work organization, including schedules, to limit the duration and intensity of exposure, with possible rest periods^[2]. The employer must also adjust workplaces and workstations and favor remote work where possible^[1].

These rules apply to employees: the official page presenting them specifies that they do not cover micro-entrepreneurs^[2]. If you work for yourself without employing staff, these employer obligations do not directly apply to you, but your situation may vary depending on where you work (job site, client premises): check with the relevant bodies. If you employ staff, you remain subject to employer obligations.

Getting Around and Protecting Yourself Outdoors

• By car, avoid driving during the hottest hours and, where possible, park your vehicle in the shade^[3].
• On public transport, check traffic conditions online before leaving to limit waiting time, and carry a mist sprayer and water^[3].
• If you have to go out, favor shaded spots and take regular breaks^[3].

Also keep an eye on air quality: sunshine and high temperatures promote ozone buildup, which can make pollution peaks more frequent^[3]. Avoid additional exposure to pollution during these peaks and follow the guidelines of your area, which may temporarily restrict travel^[3]. You can check air quality on the Prévair website, and on Airparif if you live in the Île-de-France region^[3].

Where to Find Cool Spots

When your home gets too hot, you can head to the cool spots in your town: parks, gardens, or air-conditioned spaces provided by the town hall, such as a library or a community hall^[3]. During heat waves, the opening hours of some facilities, such as swimming pools, are sometimes extended^[3].

A collaborative map of these cool spots is offered by ADEME^[3].

Swimming, Vegetation Fires, and Water

Swimming requires caution in all circumstances, whether in the sea, a lake, a river, or a pool^[3].

Enter the water gradually, especially after prolonged sun exposure, avoid alcohol before swimming, and check swimming conditions (currents, tides, flags)^[3]. When children are with you, always stay with them, even when they are playing at the water's edge^[3].

In case of an accident on the coast, call the emergency services at 196 or dial 18 to alert the fire department; in a European Union country, the emergency number is 112^[3].

To limit the risk of fires, avoid barbecues near vegetation and never throw cigarette butts on the ground or out of the window^[3]. Météo-France's Forest Weather service provides additional information^[3].

During drought or water restrictions, avoid letting water run and limit watering. Before using water outdoors (watering, pool), check your town's guidelines on the Vigieau website^[3].

Delayed Effects of Heat and Warning Signs

The danger does not necessarily end when the alert does. The French National Council of the Medical Order explains that the intensity and duration of a heat wave can lead to a gradual decline in health, even several days later, especially among the most vulnerable people^[4].

Early signs can include dehydration, marked fatigue, confusion, or worsening of chronic conditions. This can affect older people or those with chronic illnesses, isolated people or those exposed to heat, and even people who were initially in good health^[4].

Contact a doctor at the first symptoms, and whenever you have any doubt^[4].

Also check on older, isolated, sick, or fragile people, and call 15 in case of fainting, high fever, or incoherent speech^[3]. During heat waves, the French Ministry of Health sets up a toll-free hotline: 0800 06 66 66^[3].

Checklist Before and During a Heat Wave

• Check your department's alert level on the Météo-France website.
• Prepare your home: keep shutters closed during the day, open windows as soon as outside air is cooler, and create cross-ventilation.
• Schedule demanding tasks and outings for the coolest hours.
• Identify a cool place near your home in advance.
• Keep water and a spray bottle with you when you use public transport.
• Note the numbers: 15, 18, 196 on the coast, 112, and 0800 06 66 66.
• Check in on your neighbors or vulnerable loved ones.