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15 départements on 'red' heatwave alert in sizzling France

The Local France
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15 départements on 'red' heatwave alert in sizzling France
Parisians cooled down under water-spraying fans this week as temperatures soared over 35C. Photo: AFP

Tuesday spelled yet another day of spiking temperatures in France, as the country entered what was predicted to be the last day of the week-long heatwave.

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The national weather agency Météo France placed 15 départements on 'red' and 53 départements on 'orange' heatwave alert for Tuesday, the highest and second highest levels of alert.

"The maximum temperatures will fluctuate a little because of the cloud cover and the risk of thunderstorms," Méteo France said in a statement published on their website, adding:

"But (the temperatures) will remain generally similar to the day before, often between 34C and 37C."

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Among the areas on 'red' alert were the greater Paris region Île-de-France, Hauts-de-France, Eure and Seine-Maritime.

'Red' alert signifies that there is a "danger to life or health".

EXPLAINED: 'Everyone is at risk' - What France's red level heatwave warning means for you

Météo France said the reason for the 'red' alert in the north was that the current Covid-19 health context increased the "risk for excess mortality," a risk further heightened by the pollution levels in urbanised areas.

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Large parts of the country will see thunderstorms hitting in the afternoon and evening, with Météo France placing several départements on 'yellow' alert for "occasional strong or even violent thunderstorms."

 

 

Source: Météo France

The weather agency predicted heavy rain and potential hail and lightning later across the western coast, beginning in the northwestern regions Pays de la Loire and Normandy and moving towards Paris and the northeast.

Temperatures will "drop significantly in the west of the country on Wednesday and Thursday," and "on Friday, we will no longer be talking about a heatwave in France," Méteo France said.

 

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