More than half of France's population is under a severe weather warning as large parts of western Europe face the second extreme heat event of the year, with temperatures expected to exceed 40C (104F).
Macron Calls for Vigilance
The French president, Emmanuel Macron, urged “extreme vigilance from everyone,” asking citizens to “take care of our oldest and most vulnerable people” and follow government advice. “We are going through difficult days,” he said.
A 30-year-old man died after going into cardiac arrest on an athletics track near Paris on Thursday as the temperature hit 37C. The rail operator SNCF cancelled 71 intercity trains and schools rescheduled exams.
Heatwave Alerts and Records
The national weather service, Météo-France, extended its orange heatwave alert to cover 53 of the country’s 96 mainland departments – home to 36 million people – from midday on Friday, warning of a “widespread, prolonged and intense” heatwave.
Astronomical summer does not begin until Sunday, but this is already France’s second extreme temperature event of the year after an unusually hot spell in May that shattered local and national monthly temperature records.
Météo-France said temperatures were likely to average 36C in the north-west and 38C in the centre and south on Friday. After a slight dip on Saturday, they are forecast to rise to 40C in many regions, including Paris, early next week.
Impact on Energy and Events
The power utility EDF said four nuclear plants were likely to curb output next week because of high cooling water temperatures in the Rhône and Garonne rivers. Several municipalities have cancelled Sunday’s Fête de la Musique festivities.
Spain and Germany Also Affected
A spokesperson for Spain’s state meteorological office, Aemet, said temperatures would reach 40C as the country entered “an episode of persistently high temperatures likely to meet the technical threshold for a heatwave.” Rubén del Campo said temperatures were likely to exceed 35C across the Iberian peninsula and Balearics, hitting 40C in some southern parts – such as the Tagus, Guadiana and Guadalquivir valleys – but also in eastern Cantabria and the Ebro valley in the north.
The heatwave could last until next Wednesday or Thursday, when temperatures are expected to fall, but it could remain “very hot” across much of the country, with night-time temperatures not falling below 25C in many areas.
Temperatures in south-west Germany are forecast to rise to 36C by the weekend, prompting authorities to issue heat warnings even at altitudes of 600 metres (2,000ft). The DWD weather service also forecast heavy thunderstorms and downpours. The agency advised people to avoid physical activity where possible, whatever their level of fitness, and for non-swimmers to take care after a spate of recent drownings during hot spells. A hitzefrei or heat-free day was declared for Friday, meaning lessons were cut short and pupils sent home early because buildings were heating up to unmanageable temperatures.
