France is preparing for a potentially severe heatwave, with forecasts suggesting temperatures and duration comparable to the historic 2003 heatwave. Météo-France issued the alert on Friday, June 19th, as the heatwave began impacting the country on Thursday. Approximately 41 million people are currently under orange alert, with the possibility of several departments being escalated to red alert status. The government will activate the interministerial crisis center within the Ministry of the Interior on Saturday, June 20th, to coordinate a national response. This activation signals a heightened level of concern and preparation for the expected extreme weather conditions. Authorities are urging citizens to take precautions against the heat.