In the Gard department of southern France, temperatures rose sharply on Tuesday, reaching 34.5°C in Saint-Paul-les-Fonts and 33.1°C in Nîmes, with most areas well above 30°C. Meteorological data showed readings ranging from 32.4°C in Villevieille to 34.5°C in Saint-Paul-les-Fonts, while even coastal areas such as Aigues-Mortes hit 31.6°C in the early afternoon. The heat was widespread across the department, with the exception of the Mont Aigoual massif, where temperatures remained lower.
Although high temperatures are not unusual in the Gard during summer, the current conditions are exceptional for late May. Compared with seasonal averages from 1991 to 2020, Nîmes was 9.1°C above normal on Tuesday, while Uzès was 8.8°C higher. At the summit of Mont Aigoual, temperatures were 10.7°C above the monthly average, even though the altitude kept the maximum at a milder 21°C. The pattern reflects a strong heat dome over the south of France, locked in place by a powerful anticyclone.
Forecasters say the situation is not expected to ease immediately. Météo Languedoc warned that marine breezes may struggle to develop during the day, allowing hotter inland winds to persist and push temperatures to 34°C to 36°C on Wednesday, with local peaks of 37°C. Thursday could bring even stronger heat, with temperatures potentially reaching 37°C to 38°C and breaking many monthly records for May if predictions hold.
Météo France said the highest temperature ever recorded in Nîmes during May, 35.1°C on May 31, 2001, could be reached or exceeded on Wednesday. Even hotter conditions may develop in the Rhône Valley and the Uzège region. The heat wave is expected to last several days, with relatively stable high temperatures through the end of the week.
The Gard department, along with neighboring Hérault and Vaucluse, has been placed under yellow heatwave alert for Wednesday. Authorities said the episode is unusual for late May, long-lasting, and spreading across the southwest quarter of France. The yellow warning level indicates a heat event that can pose a risk to vulnerable people and those exposed for long periods.
Local authorities in Nîmes said they are closely monitoring the situation. The city administration recalled that schools were closed last year during a severe heat episode as a preventive health measure, though that event occurred at the end of June, just before the summer holiday period.
This early-season heat wave underscores the strength and persistence of the current weather pattern across southern France, where temperatures are expected to remain unusually high in the coming days.
