Paris, August 11 (QNA) - French authorities on Monday raised the alert level to a "red alert" in 12 departments due to an intense heatwave expected to hit large parts of the country today and Tuesday.

The heatwave, which began last Friday, is intensifying at an unprecedented rate, with temperatures regularly reaching around 40 degrees Celsius in areas stretching from Charente-Maritime in the west to Aude in the south, occasionally climbing to 42 degrees Celsius, French national meteorological agency has reported.

Christelle Robert, a French meteorological expert, suggested that temperatures might approach record highs but are not expected to exceed the national limit of 48 degrees Celsius.

Meanwhile, French climate scientist Jean Jouzel warned of a doubling in the risk of heatwaves in France over the past 30 years, noting that this is a direct consequence of continuous global warming over the last four decades.

With an additional 41 departments placed under an orange alert, only 13 departments remain outside the danger zone, particularly from the Normandy region to Alsace in the east and through the north. (QNA)