A heatwave is expected to hit a large part of France today, from Paris to the centre-east, with temperatures increasingly approaching 40°C.
Although summer does not officially begin until Sunday, 26 departments are on orange alert for heat, stretching from the Paris region eastward, including Burgundy. The heat episode is expected to last into next week, according to France's national weather service, Météo-France. The heatwave is expected to peak on Sunday or Monday, with rising temperatures made worse by the summer solstice, the longest day of the year and therefore the one with the most hours of sunshine.
Heatwaves, which are occurring "increasingly early" and coincide with exam periods or with cultural events such as the Fête de la Musique on 21 June 2026 and sporting events such as the World Cup, running from 11 June to 19 July 2026, have "a direct effect on the body, regardless of age," France's public health agency said in a statement. Once again, mayors face a dilemma: close schools and risk disrupting lessons, or keep them open, sometimes at the expense of children's wellbeing. The stifling heat is also proving particularly difficult for secondary school students sitting written exams for the baccalauréat, France's high-school leaving qualification, in overheated classrooms. The exams conclude today.
Education Minister Édouard Geffray announced on Tuesday that oral baccalauréat exams could be rescheduled locally, by "a few hours or a few days." On Sunday, the minister had expressed his wish for "no exam" to be held in the afternoon. For its part, SNCF, France's national rail operator, cancelled 71 train services scheduled from today, Thursday, through Monday, due to possible air conditioning system failures.
Heatwaves are occurring increasingly often under the influence of climate change, driven by the mass use of fossil fuels. Elsewhere in Europe, Spain and the United Kingdom are also facing very high temperatures. France is experiencing "increasingly frequent, numerous and intense heatwaves, a clear sign of climate change," said Matthieu Sorel, a climatologist at Météo-France.
Source: Athens-Macedonian News Agency
