France expands maximum heat alert to half the country on Monday

France is bracing for an unprecedented heatwave, with 49 departments placed under the highest level of red alert for extreme heat on Monday. This marks an expansion from Sunday's warnings, affecting nearly half of the country as temperatures are projected to shatter historical records.

Mathieu Lefèvre, the minister delegate for ecological transition, announced the extension of the red alert, stating that an additional 54 departments would be under orange alert. He warned that "Monday and Tuesday we will probably exceed temperature records," emphasizing that this heatwave is "an extremely early episode." The red alert will cover the western facade of the country, excluding Normandy and areas near Belgium, as well as a significant portion of the interior, including the Paris region.

Météo France compared the current situation to the devastating heatwave of August 2003, which caused an estimated 15,000 deaths. In the affected departments, temperatures are expected to remain exceptionally high both day and night. Overnight lows could range from 20-23 degrees Celsius, climbing to 23-26 degrees in the Bordeaux region. Afternoon temperatures are predicted to reach between 40 and 42 degrees Celsius, with some areas potentially exceeding this.

The prolonged heatwave is expected to continue and potentially worsen in certain regions throughout the coming week. The impact is already being felt across the country, with the Ministry of Education reporting that 845 primary and secondary schools will not open on Monday due to the heat. Around 1,800 other schools will adjust their schedules to avoid classes during the hottest afternoon hours. The national railway company, SNCF, is working to maintain services but warned that some older trains without air conditioning might be suspended. Paris is extending swimming hours at locations like the Canal Saint Martin to help residents cool off.