<
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/jun/22/europe-record-heatwave-temperatures-forecast-reach-44c>
"Two children aged four and two have been found dead in their family’s car in
south-eastern France, the local prosecutor said, as a large swathe of western
Europe suffers a ferocious heatwave forecast to shatter absolute temperature
records.
“The causes of death are yet to be determined, but the heat is the leading line
of inquiry,” said Hélène Mourges, the prosecutor in the town of Carpentras,
where the temperature was expected to exceed 39C (102.2F) on Monday afternoon.
The deaths follow those of three elderly people, aged between 80 and 95, who
died near Bordeaux over the weekend as a result of health problems caused by
the extreme temperatures, an official said. Thirteen more drowned in swimming
accidents.
French authorities on Monday placed half the country – 49 of the country’s 96
mainland departments – on a level 1 danger-to-life warning, urging 35 million
people to exercise “absolute vigilance”, avoid strenuous exertion and stay out
of direct sun.
A further six departments will be added to the red list on Tuesday, with 35
others remaining on a level 2 orange alert. “Very high temperatures are setting
in for the long term across the country,” said the national weather service,
Météo-France.
It said temperatures throughout western and central France were likely to
exceed 40C from Monday afternoon, hitting 43C in Bordeaux, 41C in Limoges, 40C
in Toulouse and Tours and 39C in Paris, and would continue rising until the end
of the week.
Night-time lows are also likely to be far higher than normal until at least
Friday, Météo-France said, with the minimum temperatures of about 25C recorded
in several towns and cities overnight on Sunday already setting all-time
records."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
