France cancels events and restricts alcohol consumption amid brutal heatwave
More than a third of France is under a red heat alert, with outdoor sports events cancelled and alcohol restricted at the nationwide music festival as temperatures are forecast to exceed 40°C.
French authorities have placed over a third of the country under a red heat alert, cancelled some outdoor sports events and restricted alcohol consumption at the nationwide Fête de la Musique festival as a brutal heatwave pushes temperatures above 40°C. Level 1 or 2 heat alerts were issued for about 53 million people, or 76% of the population. A record 35 of mainland France's 96 departments are on danger-to-life red alert, with another 45 under orange warning.
The national weather service, Météo-France, described the heatwave as of "exceptional severity and duration," likely to break monthly and possibly all-time records. Temperatures could exceed 40°C in many areas on Sunday, rising to 42°C or more from Monday. The national heat index, an average of day- and night-time highs at 30 weather stations, is expected to reach its highest ever level.
Sunday's Fête de la Musique, a nationwide summer solstice celebration with free performances, raised particular health concerns in Paris, Lyon and other major cities. Culture minister Catherine Pégard urged "extreme vigilance" and left decisions on cancellations to local authorities, most of which opted for precautions. Several towns cancelled pre-7pm performances or moved them indoors. Many introduced alcohol restrictions, banning street drinking in red alert areas and prohibiting alcohol sales at municipally organized events.
In Paris, under red warning, high-alcohol beers, fortified wines and spirits are banned along the Seine and Canal St-Martin to reduce the risk of falls into water. Drinking at licensed bars, cafes and their terraces is permitted. Nearly 5,000 police and 2,500 emergency workers were deployed. City hall installed over 1,300 free public water fountains, and more than 1,500 shops joined a scheme to refill water bottles for free.
Prime minister Sébastien Lecornu convened a government heat crisis meeting on Saturday and planned another on Sunday, ordering ministers to urgently plan for adapting to future heatwaves. Education minister Édouard Geffray said over 800 schools nationwide announced they would not open on Monday due to extreme heat, while another 1,800 rescheduled classes and end-of-year exams. SNCF rail chief Jean Castex advised "more vulnerable passengers" to avoid trains and postpone journeys, warning that air-conditioning and rail infrastructure were being "heavily tested."
The heatwave extends beyond France. In Italy, heat warnings expanded from seven to eight cities in northern and central regions. Spain’s Aemet issued red warnings for northern areas, with temperatures between 40°C and 42°C forecast in major river valleys and inland regions like Andalucía and Extremadura, rising to nearly 44°C by Tuesday. In the UK, the Met Office said baking heat could last until at least Thursday, sparking health alerts for vulnerable people, and there is growing confidence that the record for the hottest UK June temperature of 35.6°C set in 1976 could be broken.
