For several days now, the south of France has been suffering from extreme heat, while the north is coping a little better. Until now, August temperatures in Paris and the Ile-de-France region have not exceeded 31 degrees, making for sunny but still fairly bearable weather. This Tuesday, August 12, is a repeat of June, with 35 degrees expected during the day and tropical nights where the temperature doesn't dip below 20 degrees.
As a result,Météo France has placed Paris and the surrounding region under a "vigilance orange canicule" (orange heatwave alert), while 16 French departments are already under a "vigilance rouge" (red heatwave alert). It's the lack of real coolness, even at night, that makes Parisian nights particularly complicated, and can accentuate the risks for the most vulnerable populations. As for the rest of the week, Wednesday promises to be cloudier, but with 33 degrees, and the rest of the week will see temperatures drop slightly, but still above 30 degrees.
To activate a heatwave alert, Météo-France uses strict criteria, in particular those that distinguish a heatwave from a simple heatwave. Vigilance orange is triggered when a period of intense heat lasts for 3 consecutive days and nights, and is likely to pose a health risk for the entire exposed population.
The Canicule info service toll-free number (0800 06 66 66) has been activated, and is available from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. The authorities recommend drinking regularly, cooling off several times a day, and limiting exposure to the heat.
The City of Paris is activating its reinforced vigilance plan, with measures aimed at vulnerable groups: raising awareness in healthcare establishments, informing event organizers, and stepping up outreach and drop-in services.
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