France swelters in new heatwave as water restrictions tighten

Seventy-eight departments, including Rhône, Hauts-de-Seine, Calvados and Finistère, are on orange heatwave alert as weeks of drought trigger new water-use curbs. France is facing a new spell of extreme heat. On Wednesday, the heatwave will spread across much of the country, with 78 departments placed on orange alert. In several regions, temperatures will rise above 35 C, while in some areas, such as Corsica, the mercury could exceed 40 C on Thursday. This persistent heat is making everyday life more difficult for residents. In Bordeaux, as in other cities, some people are having to keep their windows closed during the day and limit their movements to the coolest times. Nights are also proving difficult, with temperatures struggling to drop, particularly in the west of the country. In these conditions, the authorities recommend drinking water regularly, staying cool and paying particular attention to vulnerable people, such as older people and young children. A diet rich in fruit and vegetables and cool showers can also help people cope better with the high temperatures. But the heatwave is not the only cause for concern. The lack of rainfall (source in French) is worsening the drought. Soils remain extremely dry and small watercourses are in a particularly worrying state. In fact, nearly 1,400 watercourses are reported to have dried up, according to OFB, the French Office for Biodiversity. (source in French) Restrictions on water use now affect a very large majority of the population in mainland France and in Corsica. This succession of heatwaves, which are becoming more frequent and intense in the context of global warming, highlights the growing challenges that France must prepare for. A return to more tolerable temperatures is not expected before the weekend.