A heat wave is expected today to affect a large part of , from to the central east, with temperatures increasingly approaching 40°C.
While summer doesn’t officially start until Sunday, 26 departments are on orange heat alert, from the Paris region eastward, including Burgundy.
Another heat wave before summer even officially begins
And this heat wave “is expected to last until next week, according to the national weather service Météo-France.
The peak of the heat wave is expected on Sunday or Monday, with rising temperatures further exacerbated by the summer solstice, the longest day of the year and therefore the most hours of sunshine.
The heatwaves, which occur “increasingly earlier” and coincide with exam periods or cultural events (such as the Music Festival on June 21) and sporting events such as the World Cup (June 11-July 19), have a “direct effect on the body, regardless of age,” France’s Public Health agency said in a statement.
Measures are being taken
Once again, mayors face a dilemma: close schools, risking disruption of classes, or keep them open, sometimes at the expense of children’s well-being. The sweltering heat is also proving particularly difficult for high school students taking written exams for the baccalaureate, the national high school diploma, in overheated classrooms. Exams end today.
Education Minister Edouard Geoffre announced on Tuesday that the oral examinations for the baccalaureate could be postponed in some places by “a few hours or a few days”.
On Sunday, the minister expressed his desire for “no examination” to be held in the afternoons.
For its part, SNCF, France’s national railway operator, canceled 71 train routes scheduled from today Thursday to Monday due to possible breakdowns in the air conditioning system.
This is the second heat wave in just a few weeks to hit France, which in May experienced unprecedented temperatures for the month.
More and more frequent heat waves
These heat waves are occurring more and more frequently under the influence of climate change, fueled by the massive use of fossil fuels.
In Europe, Spain and the United Kingdom are also threatened by very high temperatures. France is experiencing “increasingly frequent, numerous and intense heat waves, a clear sign of climate change,” says Mathieu Sorel, climatologist at Météo-France.
Criticized by the opposition for its “lack of preparation” during the previous heatwave, the government intends to show its mobilisation.
“France is positioning itself as one of the leading countries in terms of adaptation,” said Minister of Ecological Transition Monique Barbeau.
