PARIS, France (AFP) — A new heatwave swept across much of France on Thursday, with temperatures forecast to approach 40 °C later in the week, dozens of trains cancelled and classes suspended.

Although astronomical summer does not begin until Sunday, this is already France’s second heatwave of 2026, following an unusually hot spell in May that shattered records across half the country.

A fourth of the country, including Paris, was placed on orange alert, the second-highest, with authorities urging residents to be “very cautious” and drink lots of water.