France Hit by Extreme Heat, More Than 100 Temperature Records Broken

Extreme heat waves hit France. Temperatures in a number of areas reached 40 degrees Celsius and broke hundreds of weather records. (Photo: Anadolu Agency)

JAKARTA - France is hit by an extreme heat wave. On Monday, temperatures in a number of areas reached 40 degrees Celsius and more than 100 all-time high temperature records were broken.

As reported by Anadolu Agency, quoted Tuesday, June 23, as many as 459 heat records were broken or matched previous records across France. Of that number, 102 are all-time high temperature records, according to BFM TV, a French news television station.

Bordeaux is one of the hottest areas. The city in the southwest of France recorded a temperature of 41.9 degrees Celsius. That was the highest temperature in 106 years of weather records in the city.

The all-time high record was also recorded in Saintes, a region that has weather data since 111 years ago.

The heat is not only stinging during the day. France also recorded the hottest night in seven years, from Sunday night to Monday.

The national average temperature that night reached around 21.4 degrees Celsius. The record was the highest since the July 2019 heat wave.

In Paris, Meteo-France recorded a minimum temperature of 24.2 degrees Celsius at night. The figure broke a record that had lasted almost 10 years.

Extreme hot weather is not expected to subside soon. Weather forecasts show that temperatures can still rise throughout the week.

At night, the temperature in a number of areas is expected to remain high, ranging from 23 to 26 degrees Celsius.

Meteo-France raised the alert level on Monday. A total of 49 departments are on red alert and 40 departments are on orange alert.

The weather agency said Monday was the third hottest day ever recorded in France since 1947.

The heat wave also disrupted daily activities. National Education Minister Edouard Geffray said 845 schools were closed on Monday due to extreme heat. A total of 1,800 other schools adjusted operating hours.

Another impact appeared in the waters. National civil security spokesman Jerome Boulanger told ICI Paris that 13 people had drowned since Saturday.

"During this heat wave, cooling the body and maintaining body fluids is a very good thing. However, when people swim, it really needs to be done in a supervised location," said Boulanger, as quoted by Anadolu Agency.