Almost all of France moves to orange alert due to heat

France sharply expands the zone of a weather warning due to heat. On Wednesday, August 12, 78 departments will be on orange alert, declared by Météo-France because of high temperatures.

The warning will cover most of the country, including Paris and the entire Île-de-France region, a large part of the western, central and southern regions. According to the latest forecast update, the orange level for several additional departments will take effect from noon on August 12.

On Wednesday, intense heat will continue to spread to the north and south-west of France. Météo-France expects 36–38 °C in many areas. The coolest weather will remain north of the Seine and near the country's northern borders.

The night leading into Wednesday will also be warm: in southern Brittany, Maine, Touraine, Berry and Burgundy the minimum temperature locally will not drop below 20 °C. This increases the strain on the body because premises and urban environments cool down less well at night.

The peak of the heat is expected in the second half of the week. On Thursday, temperatures in most regions may rise to 35–39 °C and locally reach 40 °C. On Friday, cooler air will begin to arrive in western France, but 35–40 °C is still forecast in central and eastern areas.

The current heat wave began on July 28 and is the third in France this summer. It did not end completely even after a temporary drop in temperature because intense heat persisted in the south-east of the country. On July 29, 42.7 °C was recorded in the Landes department and 40.7 °C in Bordeaux.

Météo-France warns that the orange alert level means an elevated risk primarily for elderly people, children, people with chronic illnesses, as well as for those who exercise or work outdoors. The meteorological service recommends drinking water regularly, avoiding going outdoors during the hottest hours and limiting physical activities.

Based on materials from: Météo-France, Le Parisien