PARIS — France is experiencing one of the most intense June heatwaves on record, with temperatures soaring past 40 degrees Celsius across much of the country and peaking at approximately 42 degrees in the southwestern city of Bordeaux. The national weather service reported that 76 weather stations recorded temperatures that either exceeded or matched historical June highs on June 21.
As of June 23, Météo-France had placed 49 French departments under red-level heat alert, the highest warning classification, while an additional 40 departments were under orange alert. The extreme temperatures have disrupted transportation, education and public services across the country.
The French Ministry of Education reported that 1,352 schools and middle schools had suspended classes due to the heatwave, with 4,042 others introducing special arrangements to cope with the extreme temperatures. Most school buildings in France lack adequate cooling systems.
SNCF, France’s national railway operator, cancelled 71 long-distance train services between Thursday and Monday to prevent potential air-conditioning failures caused by the high temperatures. The operator also withdrew 10 percent of trains in the Paris region to reduce the risk of tracks overheating and becoming permanently deformed. SNCF urged passengers with health vulnerabilities to avoid rail travel during the alert period.
The health sector has also felt the tragic impact. Civil defense authorities reported at least 13 drowning deaths across France over the weekend, as residents sought relief in rivers, lakes and coastal areas. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu confirmed that 40 people have drowned since last Thursday while seeking relief from the record-breaking temperatures.
Hospitals have increased emergency room staffing in response to rising cases of dehydration and heat-related illness.
Météo-France stated that the current episode could rank among the hottest June days in recorded history for France. Meteorologists have noted an increase in heatwave frequency, with 34 of France’s 51 recorded heatwaves since 1947 occurring after the year 2000.
