France continues to suffocate this Wednesday, August 23. Nineteen departments are in red vigilance on a diagonal going from Gers to Ain and 37 others in orange for heat wave. An intense and lasting episode, even exceptional in some localities.
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On Tuesday afternoon, August 22, four additional departments were added to the 15 already on red alert for a heat wave, bringing the total number of departments on maximum alert to 19, according to Météo France.
“ A lasting and intense heat wave has settled over the southern two-thirds of the country. It takes on a remarkable, even exceptional character from now on in the Rhône Valley and in the south of the Massif Central, then gradually in Occitania and as far as the west of Aquitaine tomorrow. “, notes Meteo France. The maximum temperatures will reach 40 to 42 degrees, or even locally more, with probable records at the key, warns the meteorological service.
A temperature of 43 degrees was measured at Puy-Saint-Martin, in Drôme. A heat that is difficult to bear for the inhabitants, like Eric Chaupitre. He lives in the village of Saint-Mamans in the Drôme.
Eric Chaupitre, a resident of Drôme
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Some 37 departments, still in the southern two-thirds of the country, are on orange alert, under a line running from Vendée to Bas-Rhin. A scorching peak is expected between Wednesday and Thursday, according to forecasters. Météo France specifies that vigilance in certain departments, particularly in the south of New Aquitaine, could increase in the face of the duration and intensity of the heat wave.
“ On the scale of France, this is the first time that such an intense heat wave has been observed so late in the summer. “, adds Météo France. On Monday August 21, 2023, the country experienced its hottest day ever measured after August 15, with a national thermal indicator of 26.63 degrees. This value is 5.8 degrees above the normal for the season over the period 1991-2020.
The “late heat wave” phenomenon, Davide Faranda
A worrying heat wave
This Wednesday, the minimum temperatures will be around 20 to 25 degrees in the regions affected by the heat wave, 26-27 around the Mediterranean. As for highs, 37 to 40 degrees are expected over most of the southern half, with higher peaks locally. According to Météo France, the decline will begin from the west on Friday.
Only a last northern quarter is still spared by the heat wave. From Brittany and the north of the Loire to the Benelux, the minimums will range from 13 to 18 degrees in general. In the afternoon, the thermometer will show between 28 and 34 degrees.
” This summer was perhaps even more worrying in the northern hemisphere than the previous summer, which was already a shock, especially in France, because of the extreme climatic events that we experienced “, explains the climatologist Davide Faranda. According to him, the worrying point, “ is that in some areas of the Mediterranean, we remained in this scorching situation almost from mid-June, and it did not rain in large areas of Spain, Italy, the Greece, which are also food producing regions which also feed France”.
And to add: “In the south of France, we also have fairly marked drought conditions, and therefore, we can expect difficult times. All this translates into the increase in the price of what we consume and also problems in the ecosystems, plants and animals registered. concluded Davide Faranda.
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