Heatwave: 38 departments, including all of New Aquitaine, placed on orange alert – South West

Meteo France In total, 38 departments are now affected by the orange alert. The weather vigilance scale has three alert levels: yellow (be attentive), orange (be very vigilant) and red (absolute vigilance). Forecasters are warning of a sharp rise in temperatures this Sunday, especially in the Southwest, where 40°C will be very frequently reached. “The minimum temperatures, so far fairly mild, will generally be higher than in recent days. The night cooling will therefore be less” also notes Météo France.Monday, the hottest day ever recorded?Monday should mark “the high point” of the heat wave, with the hottest temperatures: 40°C expected on the entire west facade of the countries, including Brittany, where many records could fall. At the same time, the high temperatures will gain towards the eastern flank of the country. Overall, the mercury should exceed 30 degrees throughout the territory “except on the edge of the Channel and near the northern borders”, indicates Météo France. A level of heat never before recorded at the national level. The last heat wave for the month of July dates back to 2019 and was exceptionally intense with average temperature records. France had thus experienced its hottest day since the start of measurements with 29.4°C on July 25 (tied with August 5, 2003), as well as its hottest night, with an average of 21.4 °C, the night of July 24 to 25. A “significant” drop in temperatures is to be expected from Tuesday in the West, even if the high temperatures will persist in the East of France. The current heat wave is affecting the whole of Western Europe, causing forest fires such as in the South-West of France, in Spain or in Portugal. In the UK, the Meteorological Agency has issued the first-ever ‘extreme heat red’ alert in the country’s history. Temperatures could exceed 40 degrees there, a first since the start of weather measurements.