Météo France describes a “new episode of high heat, characterized in particular by its duration and intensity”. In its bulletin published at 4 p.m., the weather organization extends its orange heat wave alert to five new departments: Landes, Pyrénées-Atlantiques, Hautes-Pyrénées, Dordogne and Lot.
11 departments were already concerned: Gironde, Lot-et-Garonne, Tarn, Tarn-et-Garonne, Haute-Garonne, Pyrénées-Orientales, Gard, Ardèche, Drôme, Vaucluse and Alpes de Haute Provence. 27 other departments are on heat wave yellow vigilance. Météo France announced that the heat peak was expected on Monday July 18 with “extreme temperatures on the Atlantic arc”. 40 to 42 degrees are expected in particular in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques to Morbihan. Temperatures above 42 degrees are expected locally in the Southwest. Météo France specifies that the heatwave episode will begin to subside from the west from Tuesday.
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The “heat wave” toll-free number was reactivated on Wednesday, the Minister of Health François Braun said on Wednesday, who also calls for solidarity while France is subject to several days of high heat. This number had already been reactivated in mid-June, during the previous episode of heat wave. A dedicated article on what to do (or not) during a heat wave is available here.
The Minister of Health had also called for “solidarity within our neighborhoods, our villages, to monitor and protect those most at risk. It’s the same with the virus: you have to learn to live with the Covid. The heat wave, you also have to learn to live with it, ”he said.