France is experiencing unusually warm weather as it marks the first day of meteorological autumn on September 23. Temperatures are expected to reach up to 8°C above the seasonal average, with some areas potentially hitting over 30°C. According to Météo-France, the weather will be generally dry and sunny, with warm conditions across much of the country. In particular, the Garonne region, which includes cities like Bordeaux and Toulouse, could see temperatures climb to 32°C or 33°C on Wednesday and Thursday. The temperature difference between morning and afternoon is significant, with some areas experiencing a 4°C drop from dawn to midday, such as in Reims, where temperatures could rise to 26°C by the afternoon. In the Southwest, several towns are bracing for record-high temperatures. Angoulême is expected to reach 32°C, which is 8°C above the average for this time of year. Other locations such as Marcheprime, Périgueux, and Casteljaloux are also predicted to hit 32°C, while Roquefort could reach 31°C. However, not all areas will see such extreme heat. For example, Bayonne is expected to stay within seasonal norms at 23°C. Across the country, temperatures are forecasted to range from 25°C to 32°C, with cities like Cahors, Toulouse, and Nantes seeing temperatures around 29°C, and Paris and Lyon remaining cooler at 26°C. The weather pattern is also creating a noticeable divide between the south and north of France. The southern half of the country will have mostly sunny skies, while the northern half is expected to be generally cloudy with occasional breaks in the cloud cover. Due to the prolonged dry spell and high temperatures, several regions are on alert for forest fires. The Aude and Hérault departments are under an "orange" alert for high fire risk on Wednesday, and by Thursday, ten additional departments, including the Pyrénées-Orientales and Var, will also be on orange alert. The Bouches-du-Rhône department is on red alert for "very high" risk. Météo-France notes that the lack of rain and persistent high temperatures have made this year's fire season particularly long and severe. In addition to the fire risks, France is facing a "historical soil drought" as reported by Météo-France. Since the start of meteorological autumn on September 1, there has been almost no rainfall, with only one day of measurable rain recorded on September 8. This drought has been developing since the beginning of summer, and soil moisture levels are at record lows for this time of year. Along the southwest-to-northeast axis, soils are drier than ever seen at this season, adding to the challenges posed by the extreme heat and fire risks.