A record-setting heatwave surpassing 40 degrees Celsius swept across Western Europe, prompting nations to take protective measures. On June 22 (local time), France shut down numerous schools to safeguard students’ well-being, as the intense heat is anticipated to continue.
Education Minister Édouard Geffray appeared on France 3 on June 21 and stated that 845 primary and middle schools in regions under a red heatwave warning would be closed on June 22. He also mentioned that 1,800 schools would modify their timetables, sending students home earlier in the afternoon.
As of June 21, 35 regional autonomous authorities in France were on the highest-level red heatwave alert, while 45 others were under an orange alert. The number of regions under a red alert is the highest ever recorded.
Around 53 million individuals are impacted by the current heatwave. With the exception of the northwestern parts of Normandy and Brittany, which are adjacent to the Atlantic Ocean, almost the whole nation is experiencing the effects of the heatwave.
A French weather service said, “The severity of this heatwave will exceed past records,” forecasting that temperatures might rise as high as 44 degrees Celsius from June 21 onwards this week.
Annual street music festivals planned for the day faced interruptions as well. French authorities prohibited the consumption of alcohol at festival locations during red alerts and called off some performances in specific cities.
The extreme heat also affected the fragile railway system, resulting in the cancellation of 71 train services that link Paris with surrounding regions. Jean Cascette, CEO of the French National Railway Company (SNCF), stated during a press conference, “We decided to modify operations instead of putting vehicles at unnecessary risk,” and advised vulnerable populations, such as children and the elderly, to refrain from traveling by train.
The Eiffel Tower, constructed from iron, had its operating hours modified. As iron expands when exposed to heat, the 330-meter structure might experience a slight lean. The tower’s management stated on its website that it would shut down at 4 p.m. on that particular day.
The French Green Party has also launched a petition to implement a climate leave policy, providing up to five days of annual leave for workers who are at risk during heatwaves.
Spain scrapped public celebration events for the World Cup game against Saudi Arabia scheduled for that day because of the intense heat. The Spanish Football Federation had intended to install a big screen at Madrid’s central Colón Square to show the 6 p.m. match but canceled the plan as the capital’s temperature was predicted to hit 40 degrees Celsius.
Officials recommended that soccer supporters watch the game inside buildings equipped with air conditioning. As of that day, 13 out of Spain’s 17 autonomous regions were on an orange heatwave warning, while the northern Basque area, which shares a border with France, was under a red alert—the most severe classification.
A heat dome is blamed for the current heatwave, which occurred when a mass of hot air from North Africa was confined over Western Europe by powerful high-pressure systems. The heatwave is predicted to ease early next week.
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