The Alpes-Maritimes préfecture placed the department on orange heatwave alert from midday Thursday, as Météo France forecasts temperatures climbing to between 34 and 37 degrees inland and up to 34 degrees along the coast.
The alert follows a marked, steady rise in temperatures across the department in recent days, with Wednesday night already unusually warm, minimum temperatures ranging from 16 to 20 degrees inland and 20 to 24 degrees along the coast. Météo France said the heat would intensify further through Thursday afternoon, with little overnight relief expected as temperatures struggle to drop significantly after dark.
The Alpes-Maritimes joins 20 other French departments placed on orange alert Thursday, stretching from the Alps and Rhône valley to Corsica, as the heatwave grips much of the country's eastern and southeastern regions. Health authorities reiterated that the danger is particularly acute for the elderly, those with chronic illnesses and other vulnerable groups, with the episode expected to persist into early next week.