麻豆传媒映画

Twenty-three French departments - mainly in the south-west - have this afternoon (June 15) been placed on 鈥榦range鈥� alert for heatwaves.

They are mostly located in the south-west and along the west coast, stretching up to Pays de la Loire. There are also two departments from the Auvergne-Rh么ne-Alpes region, Ard猫che and Dr么me on orange alert.

Weather service M茅t茅o-France updated its heatwave warning map at 16:00 today. Before, 12 departments were on yellow alert for heatwaves.

You can keep informed of heatwave alerts in your department .

Read more: How hot will France鈥檚 heatwave be and how long will it last?

Read more: Explainer: France鈥檚 鈥榟eatwave plan鈥� and how it may affect residents

France is heading for a week of record-breaking temperatures that could climb to over 40C in places.

The peak of the wave is expected between Thursday and Saturday, with temperatures varying around the country but likely at some stage to surpass 30C everywhere.

In the north, for example, temperatures are expected to break the 30C barrier from Friday.

The highest temperatures will be in the south, south-west and west of the country, where they could reach up to or even exceed 40C.

Overnight, temperatures are likely to remain 20C or higher in many places.

M茅t茅o-France describes the heatwave as 鈥渞emarkable鈥� for how early in the year it is, saying that it could become the earliest heatwave in France measured on a national level since recordings began in 1947.

Related stories

What can we expect from the heatwave about to hit France?