France is in the grip of its third heatwave of 2026, with 67 départements under Météo-France vigilance from midday today and temperatures reaching as high as 41°C in places. Seven départements are under red alert for wildfire risk nationally.
The Alpes-Maritimes isn't one of them. Along with the Grand Est, Pas-de-Calais and Corsica, it's one of only a handful of regions currently spared the worst of the heat. The département was itself under orange vigilance from 1 to 3 July, before Météo-France stood it back down to green on Friday.
Today, Nice is forecast a comparatively gentle 28°C, with some early cloud off the sea before it clears. Compare that to Bordeaux at 40°C, Toulouse at 39°C, or Lyon at 37°C. The coast's sea breeze is doing the job it usually does.
The Var isn't as fortunate. It's been placed under yellow heatwave vigilance from today through Friday, and several fires broke out in the département earlier this week, including near Saint-Mandrier-sur-Mer, on the Canjuers military range, and along the A57 near Puget-Ville. Strong winds made containment harder for crews on the ground. Nationally, the prime minister said on Monday that close to 14,500 hectares have already burned this season, with large fires still active in the Pyrénées-Orientales.
The Alpes-Maritimes préfecture has banned smoking and open fires in natural areas until the end of September, a standing order that runs every summer regardless of alert level. Barbecues remain permitted, but only at least five metres from a building with water and electricity on hand. Residents who spot smoke or flames are asked to call 18 or 112, or 114 for those who are deaf or hard of hearing.
Météo-France says the wider heatwave pattern holds through Thursday and Friday, with little relief expected elsewhere in the country before the weekend.