Dozens of towns recorded temperatures of over 42C yesterday (August 22), as France’s heatwave entered its peak.
A number of places also saw their record temperature smashed by measurements taken yesterday, including in Puy-Saint-Martin (Drôme), where the mercury hit 43.5C – the hottest temperature recorded across the country.
Météo France has placed 19 departments on red alert for heatwave conditions, and have advises all people living in these areas to be careful and follow heatwave advice.
Weather forecasters predict that temperatures could hit their ‘peak’ in some areas of the south west today and tomorrow, before a storm brings cooler air to the south and ends the heatwave.
Météo France has issued storm warnings in almost 70 departments, including 25 tier-three orange warnings, mainly around Paris and the Normandy and Hauts-de-France regions.
They also warned that temperatures of 43C could be recorded today and tomorrow, before the heatwave ends.
Temperatures recorded by Météo France are taken in the shade, and not in direct sunlight, meaning those outside during the afternoon could experience temperatures even higher.
Tuesday (August 22) was one of the hottest days of the heatwave so far, and by the end of the day 19 departments were on red alert.
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The departments facing the highest level warning are: Drôme, Ardèche, Haute-Loire, Rhône, Ain, Loire, Isère, Aveyron, Lozère, Gard, Vaucluse, Hérault, Tarn, Tarn-et-Garonne, Aude, Lot, Lot-et-Garonne, Haute-Garonne and Gers.
Alongside this, 37 departments are facing tier-three orange warnings, and a further 17 tier-two yellow warnings, for heatwave conditions – you can see the full list of warnings for departments at the Météo France website here.
Only northern departments in Brittany, Normandy, the Île-de-France region, and those near the Belgian border are not facing heatwave warnings.
Five areas saw measurements of 43C or more yesterday, with the highest – 43.5C in Puy-Saint-Martin – being the highest temperature ever recorded in that area.
The graphic below shows the highest temperatures across France yesterday:
Credit: VisActu / The Connexion
Alongside Puy-Saint-Martin, Orange (Vaucluse) and St-Barthelemy-de-Vals (Drôme) also saw their highest-ever temperatures.
Météo France said that the current heatwave is the latest ever recorded in France, and that Monday’s (August 21) national average temperature (26.6C) was the highest ever recorded in the country after August 15 since records began.
It was also 5.8C higher than the average for the day recorded between 1991 and 2020.
In Lyon, temperatures of over 34C have been recorded everyday for the last 12 days.
Temperatures to hit hard again today Wednesday August 23
High temperatures are set to continue to be recorded across the southern half of the country.
Measurements taken at 05:00 showed temperatures of 25C in Lyon and 28C in Nice.
Previously, weather forecasters said the heatwave’s peak would come on Tuesday, but they are now saying today (August 23 and Thursday August 24) will be the warmest days.
The areas of the Rhône Valley, Occitanie, the west of Aquitaine, and south of the Massif Central mountain range will all see temperatures peak between 40C and 42C again today.
Certain locations in these areas could also reach 43C, although there are no precise locations where this is expected.
Those in the south west of the country are being warned to stay vigilant, as heatwave warnings could rise to red alert in several departments.
By Thursday, a storm entering the country through the north west should begin to lower temperatures, and should reach the south by Friday, ending the heatwave.
Some forecasts predict temperatures could drop by up to 20C between Thursday and Friday in the south as a result.
