Five new departments have been placed on orange heatwave alert by Météo France in addition to the Pyrénées-Orientales, which had already been on this alert since August 6.
The high temperatures are expected to last at least until Sunday, August 11. Nights will remain warm and maximum temperatures will fluctuate between 33 and 35 degrees this Saturday, August 10, particularly around the Mediterranean. Since Friday noon, Aude, Hérault, Gard, Bouches-du-Rhône and Vaucluse have been on orange alert, joining the Pyrénées-Orientales, which had already been on orange alert since Tuesday, August 6.
This is a “non-exceptional heatwave, but quite long-lasting, requiring special vigilance, particularly for sensitive or exposed people”, specifies Météo-France in its bulletin. “Around the Mediterranean, high temperatures have set in and will continue for several more days” with nights that “will remain particularly hot” and maximum temperatures expected in the plains on Sunday between 36 and 38 degrees, the bulletin details.
Up to 31 degrees during the Games marathon in Paris
In Paris, in the midst of the Olympic Games, including the marathon, and the closing ceremony on Sunday evening, temperatures are expected to reach 30 to 31°C on Saturday during the day, and around 25°C by late evening. On Sunday, early morning, temperatures will hover around 20°C, before rising again and reaching around 33 to 35°C in the afternoon.
The highest temperatures are expected in the South-West with up to 40°C, although the heat wave should be short. In the South-East, the episode, marked by maximum temperatures between 36 and 38 °C, should however continue, according to Météo-France, which adds that the forecasts as to the exact duration and intensity “will be refined in the coming days”.
From Saturday, the last clouds should disappear to make way for a more widespread heat wave, which will spread across the entire country. The Weather Channel is predicting a heatwave in many regions. Temperatures are expected to average between 26 and 36°C from the north to the south of France, but in the hottest places, the thermometer could display 40°C. And the nights should not be a respite. Meteorologists are predicting nearly 30°C on the night of Saturday to Sunday in Perpignan, and 27°C in Marseille.
Sunday will see the peak temperatures across the country. From early morning, temperatures should be around 20°C in most of the country, while in the afternoon, only Brest and Cherbourg should remain below 30°C. La Chaîne Météo is predicting a heatwave across 3/4 of the country. In the Paris basin, the last events of the Paris Olympics will take place under a blazing sun, with temperatures expected to continue to exceed 30°C.
The same observation applies to Monday, which should be a continuation of the weekend. In the northern half, temperatures could even rise again, while the sun will still be there. With such weather in the coming days, the heatwave warning should be widely extended to at least 3/4 of the country, before a possible return to normal, next Tuesday or Wednesday, but not before.
Water restrictions to cope with drought
In the regions most affected by the high temperatures this summer, such as Lot or Tarn-et-Garonne, the prefectures have taken measures to restrict water. Residents of these regions are no longer allowed to wash their vehicles, buildings or fill their swimming pools (except for health reasons). The imperative being to save water resources as much as possible, watering gardens should also be limited. It is advisable not to take a shower per day that is short and to limit your personal consumption. However, you should not limit yourself regarding your hydration, which is essential during periods of high heat.