France experiencing intense heatwave: Warnings issued for 16 departments starting from noon on Friday
Orange Heatwave Alert Looming in Parts of France
Get ready for some sweltering temperatures, as Météo-France has issued an orange heatwave alert for a whopping 16 departments, predominantly in western France, starting from this Friday. The bustling regions have been experiencing a torrent of high heat that's about to escalate, according to the latest bulletin published at 4 pm on Thursday.
Météo-France predicts an "early heatwave," stretching from Brittany to Charentes, passing through the Centre-Val-de-Loire this Friday, and an "early heatwave" on Rhône and Isère starting Friday. The western departments brace for the hottest day on Saturday, June 20, a warning from Météo-France.
The heatwave is linked to "anticyclonic conditions" across France, affecting departments like Manche, Morbihan, Ille-et-Vilaine, Mayenne, Sarthe, Loire-Atlantique, Maine-et-Loire, Indre-et-Loire, Vendée, Deux-Sèvres, Vienne, Charente-Maritime, Charente, Haute-Vienne, Rhône, and Isère.
On Friday morning, temperatures are already on the rise, ranging from 17 to 20°C in areas such as Manche, Rhône, and Isère, and 19 to 21°C in other departments under the orange alert. During the day, temperatures typically reach 33 to 36°C, or even 37 to 38°C in certain hotspots. The nights from Friday to Saturday will see the mercury still soaring, with minimums between 19 to 22°C.
Météo-France previously placed numerous departments in the west and Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes on the yellow alert for heatwave. These levels of vigilance aren't solely based on temperatures but also on department-specific factors (e.g., populations being more accustomed to high temperatures in the South) and health criteria.
EDF Considers Power Reduction Amidst Intense Heat
The heatwave results from a high-pressure system blockage over France, also known as an "omega blockage." A depression at high altitude over the Atlantic will bring warm air masses present on the Iberian Peninsula. As a response, French electricity company EDF is considering reducing production in its nuclear fleet, particularly the Bugey site in Ain, due to the possible impact of high temperatures on the Rhône River.
This heatwave is worth taking seriously, as it's remarkably intense for June, though not entirely unheard of in France. The country has already experienced significant heatwaves in June in recent years, such as 2019 and an earlier one in June 2022. Climate change is causing heatwaves to become more frequent, longer, and more severe. Furthermore, they're increasingly occurring earlier and later in the year[2][1][3].
Stay tuned for more updates on this developing situation! In the meantime, make sure to stay hydrated and seek out cool places to escape the heat.
Prepare for soaring temperatures as the heatwave, predicted by Météo-France, is about to affect several departments in western France, starting from Friday. The weather situation stems from the presence of an omega blockage over France, a high-pressure system that traps warm air masses.
