France: Heatwave warnings extended to 59 departments June 20-21 /update 2

Event

The French meteorological agency (Météo France) has issued “orange” alerts - the second-highest on a four tiered risk rating scale, indicating potentially dangerous conditions - for 59 departments across France on Tuesday, June 20. Météo France originally issued an alert on the morning of June 19 for the departments of Charente, Charente-Maritime, Dordogne, Gironde, Landes, Lot-et-Garonne, Maine-et-Loire, Pyrénées-Atlantiques, Deux-Sèvres, Vendée, Vienne, and Haute-Vienne in the southwest, as well as Paris, Hauts-de-Seine, Seine-Saint-Denis, and Val-de-Marne. On the afternoon of June 19, the list was updated to include 35 additional departments: Ain, Allier, Ariège, Cher, Corrèze, Côte-d’Or, creuse, Eure-et-Loire, Haute-garonne, Gers, Ile-et-Vilaine, Indre, Indre-et-Loire, Isère, Jura, Loir-et-Cher, Loire, Loire-Atlantique, Loiret, Lot, Mayenne, Nièvre, Orne, Puy-de-Dôme, Hautes-Pyrénées, Rhône, Saône-et-Loire, Sarthe, Seine-et-Marne, Yvelines, Tarn, Tarn-et-Garonne, Yonne, Essone, and Val-d’Oise. And on the afternoon of Tuesday, June 20, Méto France extended the list to eight new additional departments: Aube, Bas-Rhin, Doubs, Haute-Marne, Haute-Saône, Haut-Rhin, Marne, and Territoire-de-Belfort.

The heat alert is currently set to expire at 21:00 (local time) on Wednesday, June 21, although the advisory could be extended depending on updated forecasts.

Advice

Individuals in affected areas are advised to keep abreast of local weather forecasts, avoid strenuous outdoor activity, remain indoors as much as possible between 10:00 and 16:00 (local time) when temperatures tend to peak, stay well-hydrated (with sugar-free, non-alcoholic beverages), and wear loose, light-colored clothing. Do not hesitate to seek medical attention if displaying symptoms of heatstroke (high fever, hot, red, dry skin, headache, nausea, drowsiness, intense thirst, confusion, convulsions, and loss of consciousness).