France: A new heat wave hits the country

THE France which is hit by a third wave heatwave in the midst of summer, which is intensifying in the south of the country, now fully plagued by the droughtafter Paris and its suburbs were put on “vigilance” following the driest July on record.

France is expected to record highs of 35C or higher today, Wednesday (3/8), with temperatures peaking at 39 or 40C in the south-west, according to the national weather service forecast.

Temperatures high enough to put 27 departments, out of 96 in Metropolitan France, into “orange heat alert”: from the canton of Bas-Rhin (north-east) to Vaucluse (south-east) and Haut-Garonne (south-west). Most of these prefectures are located in the eastern part of the country.

This peak of heat “will continue on Thursday (4/8) with a shift to the east” and is expected to be of shorter duration and intensity than the previous heat wave in mid-July, Météo-France explained. However, the recurrence of peak heat unusually complicates the situation, putting the most vulnerable people and nature to the test.

Only a few days passed between this new peak and the July heat wave, which was followed by a first wave in June, unusually early.

“We are worried by these continuous repetitions of the heat wave” where “they do not allow organizations to return to a normal function”explains Isabelle Bonmarrin of France’s national public health service (SPF).

“We expect an excess of mortality, mainly for those aged 75 and over”adds her colleague Robin Lagarig, clarifying that one “an account will be taken in September”.

The drought is sweeping

These heat waves are also exacerbating a very long drought sweeping the country, with Paris and its nearby departments having in turn been put on “drought alert”.

July 2022 was the warmest July on record in France since records began in 1958-1959, and the second driest ever (after March 1961).

Cumulative rainfall was only 9.7 mm, an 84% deficit compared to normal levels.

Source: News Beast

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