France hasn't even entered summer yet, and it's already going to be sweltering. The country was expected, starting Thursday, June 19, to undergo its 50th heatwave since records began in 1947, with temperatures reaching up to 38°C in some areas. "It will be early, with remarkable heat levels for June, though not unprecedented," said Matthieu Sorel, a climatologist at Météo-France, the French national meteorological service.
Starting Thursday, the already high temperatures are set to climb even further, reaching between 32°C and 35°C in eastern France. The reason is a blocking anticyclone over much of Europe that "allows for a gradual increase in heat," explained François Gourand, a forecaster at Météo-France.
On Friday, a cold drop (a pocket of colder air at altitude) over the nearby Atlantic is expected to draw even hotter air from North Africa and the Iberian Peninsula. As a result, temperatures are forecast to hit between 34°C and 36°C in western France and between 36°C and 38°C in the center-west and Mediterranean regions.
On Saturday, at the peak of the wave, the heat is set to be intense, with values frequently between 34°C and 38°C, especially throughout western France and the inland Mediterranean region. The nights will be tropical, meaning that temperatures will not fall below 20°C, preventing the body from getting a good night's rest. Other European countries, such as Spain and the United Kingdom, will also be affected.
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