An “exceptional level” heat wave in the south of France, temperature records of more than 41 ° C in Bordeaux and Toulouse

The heat wave episode that started on Friday has to go up a notch. Similarly, Monday August 11. For example, heat “Of an exceptional level” Persist in the South West, where 12 departments are classified as red vigilance by Météo-France. Nevertheless, The heat wave will continue on Tuesday. Meanwhile, with 16 departments in red vigilance, from mid-day, according to the last bulletin of the institute, published Monday afternoon, in which it is also specified that the phenomenon should last ” at least “ Until the weekend of August 15.

At least four weather stations in the south of France already broke their absolute temperature record on Monday. Therefore, Météo-France announced. In addition, The stations concerned are in Bergerac (Dordogne, 41.4 ° C), Cognac (Charente, 40.6 ° C), Saint-Girons (Ariège 39.6 ° C) and Bordeaux (Gironde, 41.6 ° C). Furthermore, The National Institute also “exceptional level” heat wave south noted 41 ° C in Toulouse, Carcassonne and Montauban. On Sunday, several cities had already exceeded 40 ° C, with 42.2 ° C recorded in Hérault, 41.3 ° C in the Pyrénées-Orientales or 40.9 ° C in the Gard.

“I don’t play with heat”

In Mont-de-Marsan (Landes). Pierrette, 76, Bob on her head, came out of her house “Constraint and forced”to go to the doctor on Monday morning. “If I had had the choice. I would have hibernated at home”says the septuagenarian, who refuses to use air conditioning at her home: “It’s an aberration, you have to produce hot outside to have cold in it. »»

Same strategy in Lyon, still according to the words of inhabitants collected by the France-Presse agency (AFP). “In the morning I go out. in the afternoon, I stay under my fan”testifies Bénédicte Mercier, 47, seated at the start of “exceptional level” heat wave south the morning on a bench in the shade. “I don’t play with heat”adds this teacher who keeps the bad memory of an insolation.

In addition to the 12 departments in red vigilance since Monday noon. 41 others, located mainly below a line ranging from Vendée to Doubs, were placed in orange alert. Only 13 will escape the extreme heat. in a fringe ranging from Normandy to Alsace via the North, the others being in yellow vigilance.

Red heat wave will remain in force Tuesday in the “exceptional level” heat wave south 12 departments of the Southwest already concerned. including Aude, still on maximum alert after a gigantic fire. On Monday afternoon. Météo-France added four departments to this list until then on orange alert: the Rhône, Isère, Drôme and Ardèche.

Drink regularly. reduce your physical activities

For its part, the state has ahead of the health consequences of the new heat wave, with hospitals ready to respond to the situation, assured the Minister of Health on Monday. “The will of “exceptional level” heat wave south the government is to be in anticipation”said Catherine Vautrin after a meeting with several state services. including regional health agencies. “As we are talking. hospitals have the capacity to meet the needs”she said, stressing that no establishment had activated “White plan” emergency.

“The nights will be quite difficult to live”warned Christelle Robert. with night minimums expected at a high level: more than 20 ° C planned for next night in Paris. For this new scorching day. the Public Health Agency France called for “Hydrate, drink” regularly and to avoid “Alcohol, coffee”Who “Promote dehydration”also advising “Reduce your physical activities”or even « reporter » His sports sessions.

In parallel, Météo-France ranked 20 departments, mainly in the west and south of the country, at high risk for fires on Monday.

In the Aude. where the dry and warm wind and the scorching temperatures complicated, on Sunday, the action of the firefighters “exceptional level” heat wave south to master the gigantic fire which traveled 16,000 hectares, the mercury should be maintained between 40 ° C and 42 ° C. Ozone air pollution alerts have also been launched in the Marseille region and in Vaucluse.

This heat wave. the second to touch the country this summer after the episode from June 19 to July 4, is also 51^e Recorded since 1947, according to Météo-France.