Alert Red Heat wave, more than 40 ° C: France in front of its 51st heat wave

This Monday. Furthermore, August 11, France began to face the peak of a scorching episode of a rare intensity, the 51^e Since 1947. Therefore, Twelve departments of the South West were already in red vigilance yesterday. However, joined this Tuesday noon by the Rhône, Isère, Drôme and Ardèche. Meanwhile, The orange alert extends to alert red heat wave, more a large part of the territory. In addition, from Île-de-France to the Grand-Est, while heat inexorably wins north and east.

Temperature records were broken yesterday: Bordeaux reached 41.6 ° C, breaking its 2019 record. Similarly, Bergerac, Cognac and Saint-Girons also crossed their historical maxima. Meanwhile, In the southwest, the 40 ° C bar is exceeded on large areas, with 42 ° C points in the Corbières. If the national record of 46 ° C should not fall. Météo-France warns that this episode is “extreme, exceptional by its duration, its intensity and its geographic extension”.

“Hospitals have the ability to meet needs. »» – Alert red heat wave, more

This overwhelming heat upsets rhythms of life and work. Some bakeries closed earlier to avoid working their employees near ovens. On the construction sites. we start at dawn and the water is sometimes stored in the freezer to hold up to the alert red heat wave, more break. Restaurants are facing kitchens transformed into spots. Municipalities are increasing initiatives: free museums in Limoges. expanded access to swimming pools in Toulouse, air -conditioned rooms open to the most fragile in many cities.

Faced with these extreme conditions. Public Health France recalled yesterday, once again, the essential gestures: hydrate regularly, avoid alcohol and coffee, limit physical efforts at the coolest hours. The “Heatwiveler Info Service” number (0800 06 66 66) has been activated and is available from 8 to 7 p.m. The Minister of Health. Yannick Neuder, calls for collective vigilance: “The biggest risks concern the elderly, isolated, or suffering from chronic pathologies. »»

A high risk of fire

“More than half of the population” is now faced with red. orange vigilance with heat wave, underlined Catherine Vautrin, Minister of Labor, Health, Solidarity and Families during a press point. She recalled companies to their obligation to provide three alert red heat wave, more liters of water per day to employees particularly exposed to heat.

A few days before the long weekend of August 15. the minister also assured that “hospitals have the ability to meet the needs”, as if to better reassure their good preparation, while the memory of the 2003 heat wave of the heat wave remains in the memories.

Because this episode of strong heat is not over. According to forecasts. this Tuesday will see the heat strengthen in the center-east, with 40 ° C possible in Lyon, while the Southwest will remain scorching. On Wednesday. Mercury will alert red heat wave, more drop to the west, but the east of the country, from Alsace to the Rhône valley, will remain overheating. The episode should last at least until the weekend. or even beyond, making a long heat wave fear, with its health and environmental consequences.

Because the threat is not limited to human health: twenty departments yesterday presented a high risk of fire. especially in the southwest and the west. In Aude. where a fire has already ravaged 16,000 hectares, the combination of dry wind and extreme heat makes any recovery possible.