France continues to cook this Wednesday, August 23. 19 departments are in red vigilance on a diagonal going from the Gers to Ain and 37 others in orange for a heat wave, an “intense” and “sustainable” episode, even “exceptional” in certain localities.
Tuesday afternoon, four additional departments were added to the 15 already in red, bringing the total number of departments on maximum alert to 19, according to Météo France. An “already remarkable” temperature of 43 degrees was measured in Puy-Saint-Martin, in Drôme.
Records at stake
“A lasting and intense heat wave has settled over the southern two-thirds of the country. It is remarkable, even exceptional, from now on in the Rhône Valley and in the south of the Massif Central, then gradually in Occitanie and up to western Aquitaine tomorrow”, notes Météo France.
The maximum temperatures will reach 40 to 42 degrees, or even locally more, with probable records at the key, warns the meteorological service.
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.
“The heat wave peak is expected between today (Wednesday) and Thursday”, according to the forecaster, stressing that vigilance in certain departments, “especially in the south of New Aquitaine”, could increase in the face of the duration and the intensity of the heat wave.
“Across 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, 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 public establishment explained to AFP.
Diagram showing how a heat dome works.
© / Meteo France
A decline will begin from the west from Friday
On 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.