PARIS (Reuters) – France is preparing for a fourth heat wave, as it experiences a historic drought, with many towns notably facing shortages of drinking water.
Prime Minister Elizabeth Borne’s office set up an interministerial crisis unit on Friday to coordinate the necessary civil security measures such as the water supply to municipalities or the delivery of drinking water.
Temperatures are expected to reach 37oC in the southwest of the country on Sunday, before the heat wave spreads throughout the territory early next week.
“This new heat wave is likely to be long-lasting”, indicated the Weather Channel on its website.
The drought currently affecting France, the most severe ever recorded since records began in 1958, is expected to worsen and last until the weekend of August 15, according to Météo France.
The Ministry of Agriculture estimates that maize production will drop by 18.5% over one year and the National Federation of Farmers’ Unions (FNSEA) has warned that the lack of fodder will have consequences on the production of maize. milk in the coming months.
EDF was forced to reduce the production of several nuclear reactors located in the southwest due to the high temperature of the Garonne.
Water restrictions are also in force on almost all of the territory in metropolitan France, in order to save water.
(Report Richard Lough; French version Camille Raynaud)
click here for restrictions
©2022 Reuters
