France is facing an early heatwave, with temperatures 10-15 degrees Celsius above seasonal norms. The heat alert has been extended to 18 departments.

France is hit by an unprecedented heatwave, with temperatures 10-15 degrees Celsius higher than the seasonal norms, starting from last week. On Sunday, a hundred monthly temperature records were broken, and the Finistère department was placed under a yellow heat alert. Météo-France has extended the alert to 18 departments, including in the metropolitan area of Paris, where temperatures are expected to reach up to 34°C. Meteorologist Cyril Wuest emphasized that this episode is caused by warm air coming from the Sahara, blocked by an anticyclonic system. This phenomenon, associated with global warming, leads to more frequent and intense heatwaves. France is preparing for a possible increase in temperature of +4 °C by the end of the century, which could lead to a significant increase in heatwave days. Additionally, the United Kingdom recorded record temperatures for May, with 33.5 °C near London. The Ministry of Sports warned about the risks during sports activities, after one participant died and others were hospitalized due to the extreme heat.