But what a heat! After several weeks under the sign of mixed weather, oscillating between rare rays of sun and rain, with rather cool temperatures for the season, the sun has returned. And what a return!

It was hot these Monday and Tuesday (up to more than 30 degrees in certain places) and it continues to get hot this Wednesday! The Royal Meteorological Institute (MRI) has also launched a yellow heat alert (maximum temperature equal to or greater than 32 ° C) until midnight (Wednesday).

When temperatures climb to this point, we sometimes hear about “heat wave” or “heat wave”. Is this the case this time? How to differentiate these two concepts?

High temperatures at least five days

To talk about heat waves, it takes at least five consecutive days with maximum temperatures equal to or greater than 25 ° C, including at least three days with maximum temperatures reaching or exceeding 30 ° C. We speak of heat wave when abnormally high temperatures are noted over an prolonged period, day and night, and that they present a risk to the health of the population.

Currently, and if the forecasts are confirmed, this time we will be able to talk about heat waves and not a heat wave. Tomorrow, Thursday, time will become more unstable (changing) with a little rain. But temperatures will remain high, between 26 and 31 degrees.

France, on the other hand, does, it just like Italy, faced with a heat wave in certain places in its territory. This was the case of Spain last week. Belgium had experienced a first heat wave at the end of June.