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Heat Wave Brings High Temperatures and Government Alerts to France, Spain, Italy and Britain
France placed a third of the country under red alert Sunday as temperatures approached 104 degrees. Spain, Italy and Britain issued warnings while governments restricted events and closed schools.
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About a third of France is under a heat red alert Sunday, with temperatures expected to reach 104 degrees Fahrenheit in some areas. The forecast for Monday is even hotter. France put emergency services and military forces on wildfire alert, restricted public alcohol consumption and canceled some outdoor sports events.
The French government banned public drinking in red-alert zones and ordered organizers of Music Day events to limit alcohol use to preserve emergency services. It announced reinforced wildfire readiness, ordered tightened surveillance of water supplies to nuclear reactors and ordered 845 schools to close Monday.
Some French trains were canceled, and the national rail authority dispatched thousands of extra staff.
The Eiffel Tower and other Paris venues set up misting stations. French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu is convening a government heat crisis meeting Sunday and ordered ministers to plan for better adapting France to heat waves in the future, including via air conditioning if necessary.
Spain kicked off the summer with large parts of the country on alert due to temperatures expected to hover around 104 degrees, even in the interior of Basque Country.
Authorities suspended outdoor sports and cultural activities in the region. The heat wave is expected to scorch Spain at least through Wednesday. In Italy, authorities expanded heat warnings to eight cities Sunday in northern and central parts of the country.
Temperatures there range from the high 90s to the low 100s. At one farm outside Milan, owners set up fans and sprinklers to keep cows cool. In Rome, tourists dunked their arms and faces into fountain pools.
