Europe’s heat wave intensifies with France on red alert
The heat has caused widespread disruptions
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[PARIS] A heat wave gripping western Europe is forecast to strengthen this week, with days of dangerously hot and humid conditions and record-breaking temperatures in France, the UK, Spain and Germany.
The heat – driven by a high-pressure heat dome and supported by a developing El Niño – has caused widespread disruptions, with school closures in France and a World Cup viewing party cancelled in Spain. Forecasts for unusually warm temperatures continue through July, making this only an early summer test for the world’s fastest-warming continent.
“There is a good chance we will see more rounds of heat this summer,” said Jason Nicholls, the lead international forecaster for AccuWeather.
Temperature records were shattered in several cities across France on Sunday, and the highest level recorded for the day was 42.2 deg Celsius in Pissos in the southwest of the country, according to government forecaster Météo-France.
French authorities have issued a red alert for 49 departments covering Paris and much of the western and southwestern parts of the country, with daytime highs of 42 deg Celsius expected until Thursday, forecasters said.
The persistent heat wave will test Europe’s energy grid. Record-high power demand for cooling is expected, according to analysis from Vaisala and Commodity Weather Group.
At the same time, electricity supply from key French nuclear plants will be limited. Electricite de France said its Golfech 2 nuclear reactor will be halted from 11.45 pm Monday through June 30 due to high temperatures on the Garonne River, and warned that other plants may have to curb generation this week.
Three elderly people died on Sunday due to the heat wave in the Gironde department in the southwest of France, Sophie Brocas, prefect of Nouvelle-Aquitaine and Gironde, said in an interview on France 3 Aquitaine. She called for caution at beaches and lakes after four teenagers died in separate drowning incidents on Saturday.
President Emmanuel Macron announced that a new intergovernmental crisis unit will be convened Monday to address the heat wave. Transport company SNCF has cancelled more than 70 trains across the country and chief executive officer Jean Castex recommended on Sunday that vulnerable people avoid taking the train or postpone their travel.
Some 845 schools will be closed and 1,800 primary and middle schools will offer adjusted schedules on Monday, according to France Info. Local officials in Marseille said municipal swimming pools will be free of charge and Catalans Beach will be open 24 hours a day until the end of the heat wave, according to ICI.
The hot, sunny conditions are baking soils and drying vegetation, threatening crops and fuelling dangerous wildfire conditions in France and Spain, forecasters said.
Authorities have issued similar heat warnings in a half dozen other countries, including Germany, Spain and the UK.
In Spain, local authorities cancelled a viewing of the Spanish football team’s World Cup football match on a giant screen in Colon Square on Sunday in the city of Madrid, where a high temperature of 38.9 deg Celsius was recorded.
Temperatures are forecast to peak Tuesday in Spain, where 44 deg Celsius is expected in some river valleys, according to government forecaster AEMET.
Monthly heat records are expected to be set this week in England, according to the UK Met Office. In London, which is currently hosting its annual Climate Action Week, daytime highs could reach 37 deg Celsius on Tuesday and 39 deg Celsius on Wednesday. The city is also forecast to experience high humidity and consecutive “tropical nights” where evening temperatures don’t drop below 20 deg Celsius. BLOOMBERG
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