Published 10.51
Over half of France is under a red heat warning due to the prevailing heat wave.
In neighboring Italy, the authorities issue a red alert for 15 cities.
Healthcare in several European countries is preparing on Tuesday to deal with an influx of patients who have fallen ill in the heat.
On Monday, the average day and night temperature in France reached 29.2 degrees, which according to preliminary data broke the previous record from 2025. The village of Châteaumeillant in the central parts of the country recorded a maximum of 43.3 degrees on Monday.
And the heat wave is not over. The number of red warnings has increased and on Tuesday covers more than half of the country, reports Le Figaro.
Since the beginning of the weekend, approximately 20 deaths by drowning have been reported, the country’s sports minister announces.
In parts of France, temperatures are expected to reach above the 40-degree mark. In Nantes, 44 degrees are expected, according to the weather channel La Chaîne Météo.
In Italy, 15 cities, including Milan and Rome, are covered by a red heat warning. During Wednesday, another Italian city is expected to be added to the list, reports AFP.
A red alert is the highest level of alert. In such a case, the authorities advise people to eat lightly, stay indoors during the hottest part of the day and cool down by rinsing in cold water.
In the UK, some old temperature records could be broken as early as Tuesday, but the highest temperatures are not expected until Wednesday and Thursday.
