A new heatwave on Sunday hit much of southern and eastern France as authorities warned of an increasing risks of wildfires and some cities granted free access to swimming pools.
Unusually high temperatures, described by national weather service Meteo France as "particularly late for the season", are expected to persist throughout the week.
"We expect 38°C to 39°C in the region of Toulouse and up to 40°C and 41°C in the lower Rhone valley, between Montelimar, Nimes and Carpentras," Meteo France said.
The latest wave of hot weather has been caused by a so-called heat dome, a meteorological event characterised by a persistent high-pressure system that acts as a barrier, trapping warm air on the ground.
The government on Saturday closed off access to areas deemed to be at high risk of forest fires including the Esterel Massif on the Mediterranean coast near Nice.
Eastern France experienced a heatwave early last month, while another spread across the Mediterranean region and southern France later in July.
Experts say global warming is to blame for an increase in the frequency in heatwaves, which rarely occur in France after August 15.
Meteo France said only six heatwaves have been recorded in France since 1947 at this time of year: in 2001, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2016 and 2017.
Records were reached on August 18 and 19, 2012, when temperatures reached 41.5°C in eastern France but such extreme weather events are now expected more often.
Between 1950 and 1999, temperatures exceeded 40°C in late August on average 0.8 times a year, but this has happened more than 13 times annually since 2000.
"The 2020 decade has already outpaced preceding ones, despite only three years having passed (2020, 2021, and 2022)," said Meteo France.
The heat has prompted some authorities to set up cooling systems for the public.
The south-eastern city of Grenoble has installed six mist sprayers and media outlets have published a list of air-conditioned buildings that are free to enter, including museums and libraries.
The mayor of France's second-largest city, Marseille, said on social media platform X, formerly Twitter, that swimming pools would be free from Sunday to Wednesday.
"In this period of very high heat, every gesture counts to protect ourselves," Benoit Payan wrote. Free access to swimming pools also featured during last month's heatwave.
The city has extended opening hours of parks and beaches.
Local newspaper La Provence reported that municipal humanitarian emergency service Samu Social was distributing water bottles, hats, sandals and maps of the city's fountains.
Countries recognising Palestine
France, UK, Canada, Australia, Portugal, Belgium, Malta, Luxembourg, San Marino and Andorra
Teenage%20Mutant%20Ninja%20Turtles%3A%20Shredder's%20Revenge
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MATCH INFO
Uefa Nations League
League A, Group 4
Spain v England, 10.45pm (UAE)
The%20specs
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Director: Laxman Utekar
Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna
Rating: 1/5
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Company name: Farmin
Date started: March 2019
Founder: Dr Ali Al Hammadi
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: AgriTech
Initial investment: None to date
Partners/Incubators: UAE Space Agency/Krypto Labs
MATCH DETAILS
Juventus 2 (Bonucci 36, Ronaldo 90 6)
Genoa 1 (Kouame 40)
Ruwais timeline
1971 Abu Dhabi National Oil Company established
1980 Ruwais Housing Complex built, located 10 kilometres away from industrial plants
1982 120,000 bpd capacity Ruwais refinery complex officially inaugurated by the founder of the UAE Sheikh Zayed
1984 Second phase of Ruwais Housing Complex built. Today the 7,000-unit complex houses some 24,000 people.
1985 The refinery is expanded with the commissioning of a 27,000 b/d hydro cracker complex
2009 Plans announced to build $1.2 billion fertilizer plant in Ruwais, producing urea
2010 Adnoc awards $10bn contracts for expansion of Ruwais refinery, to double capacity from 415,000 bpd
2014 Ruwais 261-outlet shopping mall opens
2014 Production starts at newly expanded Ruwais refinery, providing jet fuel and diesel and allowing the UAE to be self-sufficient for petrol supplies
2014 Etihad Rail begins transportation of sulphur from Shah and Habshan to Ruwais for export
2017 Aldar Academies to operate Adnoc’s schools including in Ruwais from September. Eight schools operate in total within the housing complex.
2018 Adnoc announces plans to invest $3.1 billion on upgrading its Ruwais refinery
2018 NMC Healthcare selected to manage operations of Ruwais Hospital
2018 Adnoc announces new downstream strategy at event in Abu Dhabi on May 13
Source: The National
Results
6.30pm Madjani Stakes Rated Conditions (PA) I Dh160,000 I 1,900m I Winner: Mawahib, Tadhg O’Shea (jockey), Eric Lemartinel (trainer)
7.05pm Maiden Dh150,000 I 1,400m I Winner One Season, Antonio Fresu, Satish Seemar
7.40pm: Maiden Dh150,000 I 2,000m I Winner Street Of Dreams, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson
8.15pm Dubai Creek Listed I Dh250,000 I 1,600m I Winner Heavy Metal, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer
8.50pm The Entisar Listed I Dh250,000 I 2,000m I Winner Etijaah, Dane O’Neill, Doug Watson
9.25pm The Garhoud Listed I Dh250,000 I 1,200m I Winner Muarrab, Dane O’Neill, Ali Rashid Al Raihe
10pm Handicap I Dh160,000 I 1,600m I Winner Sea Skimmer, Patrick Cosgrave, Helal Al Alawi
Second ODI
England 322-7 (50 ovs)
India 236 (50 ovs)
England win by 86 runs
Next match: Tuesday, July 17, Headingley
