France Hits Highest Temperature in 79 Years as Early-Summer Heatwave Grips Europe

[Financial News]  

Europe has been hit hard by an early-summer heatwave. The damage has been widespread, with large-scale blackouts, train cancellations, school closures, and shortened business hours at workplaces.
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of the World Health Organization (WHO), warned of the health risks posed by the heatwave.
The BBC reported on the 24th local time that Western Europe is suffering from the early-summer heatwave, noting that Météo-France announced the previous day was the hottest since weather observations began in 1947.
According to Météo-France, the average day-and-night temperature the previous day reached 30 degrees Celsius. France had already recorded 29.8 degrees Celsius on the 22nd.
The impact felt even more severe as blackouts added to the heat.
Temperatures in Paris and many other areas rose above 40 degrees Celsius on the 24th. In much of western France, temperatures climbed to between 39 and 42 degrees Celsius.
Overnight lows in Paris also stayed above 25 degrees Celsius.
At least 48 people are believed to have died as a result of the heatwave.
AFP estimated that 44 million of France's 67 million residents were affected by the heatwave red alert. Citing data from Germany's weather service and a joint research institute of the European Union (EU), it also estimated that 94 million people in Europe would have to endure temperatures above 35 degrees Celsius, while more than 350 million would face temperatures above 30 degrees Celsius.
According to the Copernicus Climate Service, climate change is pushing up temperatures around the world, with the trend especially pronounced in Europe. It is the fastest-warming continent, with temperatures rising twice as fast as the global average.
France, which relies mainly on nuclear power, also had to cut electricity generation because cooling water supplies were restricted due to the heat. Reports said output fell by 4.1 gigawatts (GW), or 7% of midday total electricity demand.
The UK issued a heatwave red alert on the 24th for much of England and Wales. That day, the temperature in Hampshire reached 36.1 degrees Celsius, setting a new June record.
The Eiffel Tower in France is closing early, while Buckingham Palace in the UK has scaled back the changing of the guard ceremony.
Italy's Ministry of Health convened an emergency meeting on the 24th to respond to the heatwave.
A heatwave red alert was issued for 16 cities, including Rome and Milan, and temperatures in Florence and Milan were forecast to rise to 41 degrees Celsius and 38 degrees Celsius, respectively.
Eastern Europe is no exception.
Poland issued a heatwave warning for the 25th through the 27th. Temperatures are expected to exceed the country's record high of 40.2 degrees Celsius, set in 1921. Croatia and Hungary are also expected to issue red alerts after this weekend.
Tedros, the WHO chief, wrote on social media platform X that "temperatures in Europe are rising at about twice the global average" and stressed that "we can no longer delay. We must reduce the drivers of the climate crisis."

dympna@fnnews.com Song Kyung-jae Reporter