France Issues Widespread Heatwave Alert Covering 53 Departments from Friday
Heatwave Alert Details and Impact Across France
Meteo-France Extends Orange Heatwave Alert
PARIS, June 18 (Reuters) - French weather service Meteo-France said on Thursday it had extended its orange heatwave alert to cover 53 departments, or administrative districts, across France starting on Friday at noon.
The alert will cover 27 departments in addition to the 26 already affected on Thursday afternoon, along an axis stretching from the southwest to the northeast, Meteo-France said in its latest update.
Heatwave Characteristics and Temperature Forecasts
• The heatwave, the second in France this spring, is expected to be "widespread, prolonged, and intense", Meteo-France said.
Temperature Projections by Region
• For Friday, maximum temperatures will range from 34 degrees Celsius to 36 C (93 to 97 degrees Fahrenheit) from the western Massif Central to the northeast, with highs of 38 C near the French Riviera and Corsica. In Paris and the Ile-de-France region, highs of around 36 to 37 C (97 to 99 F) are forecast, close to monthly records for June.
• After a slight drop on Saturday in the north and northwest, temperatures will begin to rise again on Sunday. A significant heatwave is expected across France between Sunday and Tuesday. Highs of 40 C are expected, particularly in the west and center (between the Garonne and Loire rivers).
Impact on Infrastructure and Public Events
• The heatwave has forced the French SNCF railway operator to cancel some trains while state-owned utility EDF warned on Thursday that three nuclear plants face production curbs next week because of high temperatures on the Rhone and Garonne rivers.
• Several French municipalities have cancelled the Fete de la Musique festivities slated for Sunday.
Reporting and Editorial Credits
(Reporting by Dominique VidalonEditing by Rod Nickel)
