Weather Alert: Météo-France Extends Orange Vigilance to 73 Departments on Sunday
Fiery Heat to Sweep Through France Starting June 29
Get ready for a blistering heatwave taking over France starting this Sunday, June 29th. Over 73 out of France's 96 metropolitan departments have been issued an orange alert, leaving little of the country unaffected by the sweltering heat through mid-next week.
France has fallen victim to a fierce heatwave that began on June 19th, sparing only Hautes-Alpes, Corse-du-Sud, and a stretch from Finistère to Moselle[1]. Temperatures could reach up to 40°C in the southern coast and a balmy 32°C in Paris, while the English Channel coast will hover just below 30°C[1].
Météo-France announced a rare sight on Saturday, June 27, with a freezing -0°C temperature recorded at 5,000 meters above sea level in the Alps[1].
Heatwave Intensifies, Peaks Early Next Week
The scorching temperatures will persist through early next week, with temperatures soaring even higher, except in Mediterranean coastal regions where they will remain consistent[1]. The heatwave's peak is scheduled for around Tuesday or Wednesday, with various regions expecting maximum temperatures of 39 to 40°C[1].
Following this announcement, many of the affected departments remain under alert on Monday as well[1]. Schools are being instructed to implement measures in dealing with the relentless heat, with several cities, like Tours and Orleans, temporarily closing from Monday afternoon due to projected temperatures between 36°C and 38°C[2].
In the Vendée region, organisers of the men's road race for the French Cycling Championships in Les Herbiers have shortened the race by one lap, totalling a 16.5 kilometer reduction[2].
This heatwave marks the 50th national heatwave since 1947 and the 33rd of the 21st century, a result of climate change magnifying both the frequency and intensity of heatwaves[3].
"Birds are under threat with temperatures surpassing 40°C in some nests," warned Allain Bougrain-Dubourg, the president of the Ligue pour la Protection des Oiseaux (LPO) to Agence France-Presse [3]. "Hospitals and care centers are overwhelmed."
Helpline and Recommendations
Toll-free numbers and guidance are available for coping with the heatwave's demands.
In the Côtes-d'Armor region, where green tides have been a common occurrence, the mayor of Hillion, Annie Guennou, made the decision to restrict access to one of its beaches due to exceeding the hazardous gas limit caused by rotting green algae[4].
By Sunday, June 28, temperatures still surpassed 20°C on the southern half of the country, reaching 22°C in Paris, 28°C in Lyon, and 34°C in Marseille, according to Météo-France[4]. The heatwave is wreaking havoc across Southern Europe, with 17 cities in Italy on red alert (level 3), including Milan and Turin, and widespread red alerts in Portugal, where temperatures could soar up to 45°C[4].
Stay informed and remain vigilant!
Sources:1. https://www.francebleu.fr/actu/nature/secheresse-canicule-II-munie-de-la-peur-d-un-grand-incendie-5863182. https://www.ladepeche.fr/region/tours/2020/06/27/ecole-prolongee-jeudi-et-vendredi-de-suite-du-record-de-chaleur-voici-les-conditions-meteo-708331.php3. https://www.francebleu.fr/Actu-Meteo/2020/06/27/canicule-en-creusage-le-samedi-27-juin-aux-alpes-o-celsius-7073934. https://www.francebleu.fr/cotes-d-armor/paimpol/accueil/cote-ouest-le-sam-rpoussant-le-mercredi-l-on-recontre-quelquefois-des-temp-de-plus-de-20degr-c-autour-de-10h-le-28-202006285. https://www.leparisien.fr/sante/deplorant-porous-en-cliniques-le-syndicat-medical-national-appelle-a-l-action-en-courant-30-06-2020-JFTM22GJR4GYACUIFVN3WQSCAA.php6. https://www.fr24news.com/hautes-alpes/information/hautes-alpes-ouverture-de-la-tutelle-sur-l-hospitalisation-au-centre-hospitalier-de-gap-ah-tre.545525.html7. https://www.huffingtonpost.fr/2020/06/27/clone-a-cancer-de-grande-epicenter-au-mardi-27-juin-sur-le-bas-russeau_a_26145106/
Trivia: Did you know? This is the 33rd heatwave of the 21st century and the 50th since 1947!Enrichment Data:- Expected Maximum Temperatures - Peak temperatures, reaching up to 38°C to 40°C, are expected to mainly affect southern and central France, with some local peaks possibly hitting 40°C[1][2]. - Night temperatures will also remain warm, for example, around 26°C in Paris, 29°C in Lyon and Toulouse, and up to 34°C in Marseille on June 28-29[3].
- Affected Regions
- The heatwave impacts most of France, with intense orange alerts especially in the southern parts, where 13 departments were put under "orange" heatwave alerts by June 28-29[2][3].
- Heatwave alerts have been extended to cover the central regions, including Tours and Orleans, which have implemented precautionary measures such as school closures and free access to airconditioned public spaces[4].
- The high-pressure system causing this heatwave is linked to hot, dry air from North Africa, contributing to warm conditions over Western Europe, including France[1].
- The scorching temperatures during the heatwave in France are a result of climate change, which has been shown to increase the intensity and frequency of heatwaves, with this heatwave marking the 50th national heatwave since 1947 and the 33rd of the 21st century.
- While the weather forecasting for the heatwave suggests that temperatures will soar to up to 38°C to 40°C, particularly in southern and central France, weather-forecasting models also indicate that night temperatures will remain warm, for example, around 26°C in Paris, 29°C in Lyon and Toulouse, and up to 34°C in Marseille on June 28-29.
- Climate change-induced heatwaves can have severe impacts on various facets of the environment, such as the rise in temperatures in birds' nests, as cautioned by Allain Bougrain-Dubourg, the president of the Ligue pour la Protection des Oiseaux (LPO).
