A heat wave will take hold until Tuesday in the South and up to the Île-de-France region, with nighttime temperatures between 22 and 25°C. The government is activating a toll-free hotline starting at 2 p.m. this Saturday.
Heatwave alert! The high temperatures predicted for this weekend, which have been affecting Mediterranean regions for several days, will rise and spread to the rest of France, warns The Weather Channel*. An intense and widespread heat wave will impact three-quarters of the country on Sunday and Monday. The meteorological agency has issued alerts for 71 departments, with 35 under orange alert.
This heatwave is brief, barely reaching the meteorological standard of three consecutive days and nights. The hottest days will be Sunday and Monday, except in the South-East. Some regions may experience temperatures exceeding 35°C in the shade, and even reaching 40°C, particularly in the South-West on Sunday. These variations account for the differing yellow and orange alert levels based on the departments.
Very hot nights
The current episode of intense heat in the south-east is primarily characterized by remarkably high nighttime temperatures (22 to 25°C), while daytime values remain relatively stable. This is, therefore, mainly a “night heatwave.” On Saturday, maximum temperatures will increase by an additional 1 to 2°C, with local peaks of 38 to 40°C inland.
This Saturday, the heatwave will extend into Occitanie, then reach Aquitaine and Rhône-Alpes Auvergne, where temperatures will range from 34 to 36°C. The southwest will face an intense heat peak on Sunday, with temperatures between 38 and 40°C extending to Limousin, thus warranting an orange alert to indicate the health risks associated with this intense heat, particularly during this busy beach period.
Between Sunday afternoon and Tuesday morning, the bubble of very hot air will move towards the central regions and the Paris basin, then Hauts-de-France. In these areas, heatwave thresholds will be met for two days and nights, with temperatures reaching 33 to 36°C in the afternoons, locally 38°C, and 20 to 23°C at night—a real sauna.
On Tuesday, the heatwave will withdraw towards the East due to storms. The heatwave conditions will persist only around the Mediterranean. The transition to storms is expected to be significant and might necessitate a special press release due to expected storms primarily from the Pyrenees to the central-eastern and northeastern regions between Tuesday and Wednesday.
A green number activated
The green number “heatwave”, which provides advice on “protecting yourself and those around you” from extreme heat, will be activated Saturday from 2 p.m., announced the Ministry of Health. Reachable at 0800.06.66.66 from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., the free hotline “Canicule Info service” will be available until the end of the heatwave episode, according to the government press release.
It offers some advice: stay cool or spend several hours a day in a cool place, drink water without waiting until you’re thirsty, humidify and ventilate your body several times a day, close shutters and windows during the hottest hours, eat fresh and balanced meals, avoid alcohol or check on the most vulnerable. In its bulletin, Météo France emphasized on Friday that this is “not an exceptional but fairly long-lasting heatwave.”
*The Weather Channel is a property of the group The Figaro.
Heatwave Alert: Intense Heat Hits France
A heat wave is set to grip much of France, particularly in the south and up to the Île-de-France region. Nighttime temperatures are expected to soar between 22°C and 25°C, prompting the government to activate a toll-free information number commencing this Saturday.
Heatwave alert! The high temperatures predicted for the weekend, which have already been affecting the Mediterranean regions for several days, are set to escalate and spread across France. This is according to The Weather Channel. An intense and widespread heat wave will impact three-quarters of the country this Sunday and Monday, with 71 departments currently under alert.
The heatwave is expected to be brief, falling short of the three consecutive days typically defined as a heatwave. The peak heat days will predominantly be Sunday and Monday, with certain southern regions potentially surpassing 35°C in the shade and approaching 40°C on Sunday.
Very Hot Nights
This current heatwave is characterized mainly by remarkably high nighttime temperatures, oscillating between 22°C and 25°C. Daytime temperatures will see an increase of 1°C to 2°C on Saturday, reaching peaks of 38°C to 40°C in some inland areas.
With temperatures climbing, regions like Occitanie and Aquitaine will experience highs of 34°C to 36°C, while the southwest faces a stark heat peak on Sunday with projections between 38°C and 40°C, triggering an orange alert due to the health risks posed by such intense heat during a period when beachgoers flock to the coast.
From Sunday afternoon to Tuesday morning, the dangerously hot air will shift toward central regions and the Paris basin, along with Hauts-de-France. Expected afternoon temperatures will range from 33°C to 36°C, with potential peaks of 38°C and nighttime lows between 20°C and 23°C—a veritable furnace.
On Tuesday, the heat wave will gradually retreat eastward as storms roll in, though heat wave conditions will likely persist around the Mediterranean. The impending stormy transition could be significant, necessitating a special weather alert, especially from the Pyrenees to the center-east and northeast from Tuesday to Wednesday.
A Green Number Activated
In response to the rising temperatures, the government has activated a green hotline titled “heat wave,” aimed at providing advice on protecting oneself from extreme heat. Available from 2 p.m. this Saturday, the free telephone service “Canicule Info service” can be reached at 0800.06.66.66 from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., and will remain operational for the duration of the heat wave.
Some key tips to deal with the extreme heat include:
- Stay in a cool environment or spend several hours a day in cool locations.
- Stay hydrated by drinking water regularly, even if you do not feel thirsty.
- Keep your body cool by humidifying and ventilating as needed throughout the day.
- Close shutters and windows during the hottest parts of the day.
- Consume fresh, balanced meals and avoid alcohol.
- Check in on vulnerable individuals, such as the elderly.
Météo France has indicated that while this heat wave is “not exceptional, it is quite prolonged,” emphasizing the need for precautionary measures to safeguard public health amid the heat surge.
*The Weather Channel is a property of the group The Figaro.
