Since June 1, 2023, Météo France has been offering a new service to the French public. The aim of the Météo des Forêts is to raise public awareness and inform the public about the danger of fire in the country. How does it work?

What's the point of Forest Weather?

Despite the ever-increasing number of devastating fires every year, too many people downplay the impact of their actions when faced with the risk of fire. Climate change means we have to change our behavior, because drought is raging! Unintentionally, many French people and foreign tourists start fires every summer. It is estimated that 9 out of 10 fires are started by man, and not by accident. Faced with this alarming situation, action was called for. Météo France has done so, in collaboration with the French Ministry of Ecological Transition and Territorial Cohesion. The Météo des Forêts was born on June 1, 2023, at a time when we were already beginning to talk about a scorching summer and an inescapable drought .

Information provided by Météo des Forêts

As with flood warnings, the Météo des Forêts uses a color code:

- Green : the risk of fire is low (but not non-existent, so stay on your guard).

- Yellow : moderate fire risk. Avoid any action that could start an unintentional fire.

- Orange : high fire risk, due to high temperatures and very dry vegetation.

- Red : very high risk of fire.

Every day, you can consult these forecasts, which are given over 3 days: day D and D+2. If a fire is in progress, this system won't tell you about it. Its main aim is to inform, to prevent accidents before it's too late.

How does Météo France carry out its fire forecasts?

With Météo France reigning supreme when it comes to weather-related information, it was only logical that we should turn to this device. Indeed, weather conditions are at the root of successive droughts. The state of vegetation suffers as a result: arid zones of dried grass now replace stretches of fresh grass. These are veritable infernos in the making, capable of igniting at the slightest touch of a spark. The drier the area, the faster the fire spreads. Based on this observation, Météo France analyzes several criteria for each département:

- forecast temperature,

- wind strength (a fire spreads faster when it's windy),

- ambient humidity,

- rainfall.

Added to this is the current state of vegetation in each département. All these elements are brought together to produce the most accurate fire forecasts possible.

Tips for avoiding forest fires

Consulting the fire forecast is the first step towards more responsible behavior. But you also need to take preventive measures to avoid starting fires unintentionally.

To start with, be careful when lighting a barbecue. If your local authority allows barbecues this summer, you'll still need to take a few precautions:

- Keep as far away as possible from any vegetation (prefer a terrace or pebbled ground, for example).

- Don't light a barbecue in windy conditions.

- Always keep a source of water or a fire extinguisher near your barbecue in case of fire.

The same applies to any DIY work that may cause sparks.

As for smokers , they must be careful with their cigarette butts and cigarettes. Cigarette butts should never be thrown into nature or out of a car window. The wind could blow them into a dry area, quickly igniting it. If you're walking in a forest or other natural area, don't smoke!

Finally, any flammable items, such as wood or fuel, should be kept away from the house. These items should be stored in a closed shelter, to prevent a source of fire from approaching them.

Faced with the state of emergency linked to drought and fires, we are all responsible. To preserve our natural environment and the places where we live and play, we need to be vigilant. La Météo des Forêts helps us to know the state of fire risk in each département, thanks to various climate forecasts and the current state of the environment. It's up to all of us to take responsibility for our own behavior. If, despite everything, you are faced with a fire one day, react: alert the fire department, protect yourself and inform yourself of the behavior to adopt.