Blackouts are being reported in France due to abnormal heat — Reuters
France has faced power outages amid a record-breaking heat wave that has swept across much of Western Europe. Several regions have reported power outages, as well as the imposition of emergency restrictions and the temporary closure of schools.
Due to grid overload and a transformer failure, thousands of households in the north of the country were left without power. French authorities reported that hospitals, nursing homes, and other critical facilities are being prioritized for power restoration. Generators are being rapidly delivered to social service facilities.
Due to the heatwave, France has declared the highest alert level in dozens of departments. Nearly 850 schools have temporarily suspended operations, and additional restrictions have been imposed on the public in certain regions. According to local authorities, at least three people have already died as a result of the extreme weather.
Forecasters warn that in the coming days, temperatures in some parts of France could reach +43°C. A similar situation is being observed in other European countries. In Spain and Portugal, temperatures are climbing to +44°C; in Germany, temperatures are forecast to reach +38°C; and in the United Kingdom, heat-related emergency warnings have already been issued to the public.
Meteorologists note that the current heat wave resembles the weather anomaly of 2003, which became one of the deadliest in European history. According to experts, high temperatures may persist for several more days, Reuters reports.
Earlier, the Ukrainian Hydrometeorological Center released a forecast for the second month of spring, according to which temperatures and precipitation will remain within the climatic norm.
After a cold winter, Ukrainians are looking forward to spring warmth, but April will bring not only sunshine but also weather “swings.”
An abnormal heatwave in Europe has led to at least 18 deaths.
