A staff member hands out hats to customers as part of a distribution of water bottles, hats and fans organised by the Region Sud - Provence Alpes Cote d'Azur region at the Saint-Charles railway station in Marseille on June 22, 2026, as a heatwave hits France. France was set on June 22, 2026 to experience the hottest day yet in its latest heatwave after a sweltering night, with a peak of 43C expected in the southwest. In a first, France's highest heat warning was issued across half the country for June 22, 2026, with forecasters warning the extreme weather episode could end up being as serious as a 2003 heatwave that claimed the lives of nearly 15,000 people nationwide. (Photo by Miguel MEDINA / AFP)