For his part, the French meteorologist Guillaume Séchet gives on his website some details on the current phenomenon. “”We are waiting for maximum temperatures which will exceed 40 ° C in a very extensive manner. From aude to the Charentes, values from 40 to 42 ° C are provided with local points of 43 ° C, in particular from Gers to Gironde. Such values will bring down records, monthly but sometimes also absolutelit-on. Even more than the intensity of this heat wave, its duration is concerned. Indeed, the overheated air mass will extend to the northern regions this Tuesday, August 12, 2025 and it will continue to fly over France throughout the week!“
Heat “of an exceptional level” expected in the southwest of France: “we could approach record levels”
What to fear a situation similar to that of the large heat wave in August 2003? An episode that obviously remains in memories. “”For the regions concerned, we could approach the values of August 2003, with temperatures of 43 to 44 ° C, which remains exceptional for a month of Augusttells us Pascal MORMAL, meteorologist at MRI. In general, heat records are reached between the end of June and the end of July. In August, we normally observe a slight settlement. Having values greater than 40 ° C at this period remains impressive.“
And if the temperature records of 2003 are likely to fall, we are not exactly in the face of the same climatological phenomenon. “”This heat wave is largely caused by tropical depression located off France. This phenomenon acts as a heat pump, attracting hot air from the Sahara, which he then transports to Spain and France. It is this hot air circulation that causes the heat waveXavier Fettweis analysis, climatologist at the University of Liège. In 2003, the phenomenon was different. At the time, a high pressure created a heat dome that remained fixed for several days, thus maintaining heat locally. This system was self-employed, and the heat remained trapped. Here, on the other hand, this tropical cyclone moves, which makes the phenomenon a little less stable, and therefore logically shorter in time.“
Towards a new heat wave in Belgium?
What to fear new devastating fires? “”The fire rule is based on three criteria: a temperature above 30 ° C, humidity less than 30 % and a wind greater than 30 km/h. For the moment, in France, we are under barometric stop conditions, that is to say that there is no significant wind, which reduces the risk of fire“Concludes Xavier Fettweis.
