Photo: AFPOliver Gee · 25 Aug 2016, 09:18Published: 25 Aug 2016 09:18 GMT+02:00The national weather agency has issued orange alerts to 37 départements as a heatwave sweeps across France. Weather agency Météo France has issued weather warnings for most of France, with 37 départements placed on orange alert for Thursday. An orange alert is the second highest level of alert in France and urges the public to be vigilant and to avoid unnecessary travel. The agency said that temperatures could reach 39C, after Wednesday say temperatures above 30C across almost the entire country. The map below, showing Thursday from 11am to 2pm, shows that temperatures will be in the low to mid 30's across the majority of the country, with central France the hardest hit.

Source: The Local August 25, 2016 07:18 UTC