Météo France: temperature record possible at peak heat wave | Abroad

Code red has been issued for eleven departments. In the southwest, people have to take into account a temperature of 43 degrees. Elsewhere in the country it is now between 35 and 39 degrees. In combination with the drought, the danger of wildfires is very great. In the southern department of Tarn, according to the prefect, the fire brigade has already been called out three times on Saturday.

As far as is known, the extreme heat has killed at least two elderly people. France Info reported that an 80-year-old man, who had been lying on a towel in the blazing sun, died on the beach of Pornichet, possibly from sunstroke. When he stopped moving, other bathers sounded the alarm. Attempts to resuscitate him failed. In the same area, an 82-year-old died in a swim. The transition from the outside air of 35 degrees to the water, barely 16 degrees, was probably fatal for him.

Météo France predicts thunderstorms for Saturday night that will move into the country from the Atlantic coast. They can be accompanied by violent lightning and strong wind gusts. The weather change is likely to end the heat wave, although it could last a little longer in the east.

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