Europe is braced for more sweltering days this week as an “exceptionally early” heatwave is set to endure, forcing France to declare weather warnings and keep sports events and national school examinations under review.
French weather agency Météo France warned that the “unprecedented heat for May” was expected to last “at least until the end of the week”, while southern parts of the country were facing peak temperatures of 38 degrees.
It described the weather as a “heatwave remarkable for its early arrival and duration”. Orange weather warnings are in place in eastern France, with temperatures there 9-13 degrees higher than the norm for this time of year.
“This heat is going to continue for at least the coming 48 hours. The important thing is to adapt, to follow the preventive measures,” said minister for health Stéphanie Rist.
“We’re at the start of a heatwave,” she continued, adding that the health services were prepared. “Our country has to learn to adapt as best as possible.”
The French government reported that seven deaths had already been recorded linked to the high heat, which broke temperature records for May in more than 300 locations in France on Monday.
French media have reported a surge in calls to emergency services and visits to A & E. A 28-year-old woman who collapsed while taking part in an outdoor fitness competition in Lyon died of heatstroke, French media reported, in one of several cases of heat exhaustion during sport events.
Minister for sports Marina Ferrari said there “could be cancellations” of upcoming sport events “depending on how the weather develops”. France is currently hosting the Roland Garros tennis tournament, while the Tour de France is due to take place in July.
The government has instructed schools to ensure classrooms are ventilated, offer water to students and avoid sports and gym class during the hottest hours of the day.
The government has said it is prepared, if required, to postpone national exams for secondary school students that are set to begin on Thursday.
“It’s not planned at this time,” said minister for education Édouard Geffray, adding: “If it becomes necessary, we will do it.”
Schools have been instructed to use shaded classrooms where possible for exams, and wherever possible they have been scheduled to take place in the morning.
“Unfortunately, schools are now used to accommodating children in very hot weather. We have had significant heatwaves for several years now. This one is very early, that’s what makes it novel,” Geffray said.
UK and Netherlands
The United Kingdom and the Netherlands have not been spared from the heat, which forced the Dutch military to halt live-fire exercises due to the risk of sparking a forest fire in the dry conditions.
A temperature of 34.8 degrees recorded in Kew Gardens near London exceeded the previous record temperature by “a full two degrees Celsius”, the Met Office said.
“This heat would be exceptional in the UK even in mid summer, let alone in May.”
It comes after the Climate Change Committee, a public body, said in a major report that air conditioning should be installed in all care homes and hospitals within the next 10 years and in all schools in the next 25 as the UK “was built for a climate that no longer exists”.
Italy
Orange weather warnings have also been issued for 15 Italian cities for Wednesday, which is forecast to be the hottest day of the heatwave in Italy.
Meanwhile, Spain is this week expecting temperatures more commonly seen in July, with a peak of 39 degrees forecast for the northeastern city of Zaragoza. It follows the hottest April since records began in 1961, according to Spanish meteorological agency Aemet.
