The southern France department of Gard expects temperatures on 28 June to soar and break the state's historical record of 44.1°C (111 Fahrenheit), the national meteorological service stated.
Later on Friday, the temperature met the expectations of meteorologists as it reached 44.3°C in Carpentras and Vaucluse, according to the French BFM TV broadcaster.
France’s national record-high temperature of 44.1°C was recorded in the Gard communes of Conqueyrac and Saint-Christol-les-Ales on 12 August 2003, during the deadly heatwave which hit the continent that year.