As France endures a record-breaking heatwave that has been linked to at least 40 drowning deaths, forecasters are using three key terms - pic de chaleur, vague de chaleur and canicule. Here's what they mean.
The terminology has taken on added significance as France battles an exceptionally intense heatwave.
According to France's forecaster Météo-France, the country recorded its hottest day on Tuesday (23 June) since national records began in 1947.
The national temperature indicator, which measures average daytime and night-time temperatures across 30 weather stations, reached 29.8°C based on provisional data.
Temperatures soared above 40°C in many areas and broke records in several cities, including Bordeaux and Poitiers. More than half of mainland France's departments were placed under the highest red heatwave alert.
The heat has disrupted daily life across the country. Schools closed or adjusted timetables, while major landmarks changed opening hours.
The Louvre Museum in Paris announced early closures because the heat was making conditions difficult for visitors and staff. The Eiffel Tower also shortened its opening hours.
French forecasters expect the extreme temperatures to continue before gradually easing from the Atlantic coast later in the week.
A pic de chaleur, or heat spike, is the shortest of the three events.
It usually lasts between 24 and 48 hours and brings temperatures that are well above seasonal averages. A heat spike can affect a small area or a much larger part of the country.
Although temperatures can be very high, the event is relatively brief.
Think of it as a sudden surge of heat that arrives quickly and then passes.
A vague de chaleur, or heatwave, lasts longer.
It is defined as at least three consecutive days of unusually high temperatures across a fairly large area. Temperatures are generally at least 3°C above the monthly average.
In summer, France's national temperature indicator must reach at least 25.3°C for one day and remain at or above 23.4°C for at least three days.
Unlike a canicule, a heatwave does not necessarily trigger official heat alerts because local warning thresholds may not be reached.
Even so, prolonged heat can be exhausting, especially for older people, young children and those with health conditions.
A canicule is the term that causes the greatest concern.
Unlike the other two expressions, it is tied to specific temperature and duration thresholds that vary from one department to another.
A canicule occurs when very high temperatures persist for at least three days and three nights. The key difference is that temperatures remain dangerously high overnight, giving the body little chance to recover.
This is why health officials closely monitor these events.
Heatwaves that continue through the night increase the risk of dehydration, heat exhaustion and death, particularly among elderly people, infants and vulnerable groups.
When local thresholds are reached, weather alerts are automatically issued.
Experts say heat becomes harder to endure when it is combined with high humidity, little wind and air pollution.
The body also struggles when temperatures rise suddenly, leaving people little time to adapt.
That is why a canicule is not simply a hotter version of a heatwave. It is a public health emergency that can put lives at risk.
As France faces another summer of extreme temperatures, understanding these terms helps explain why meteorologists and health officials are paying such close attention to the weather.
U.S. President Donald Trump said Washington has agreed to resume talks with Iran after Tehran requested further negotiations, but declared that last m...
What began as a fan-created chant just months ago has become one of the defining images of this year's FIFA World Cup, with Norway's "Viking Row" swee...
Russia’s fuel shortages are spreading into Central Asia, exposing the region’s heavy reliance on Russian petrol and diesel as governments race to ...
U.S. President Donald Trump said Washington has agreed to resume talks with Iran after Tehran requested further negotiations, but declared that last month's ceasefire between the two countries was "over".
What began as a fan-created chant just months ago has become one of the defining images of this year's FIFA World Cup, with Norway's "Viking Row" sweeping through stadiums, city streets and social media.
AnewZ's Daybreak on 10 July covered mounting tensions in the Middle East, political developments in the UK, and major stories from the South Caucasus and Central Asia, alongside key international news.
Ukraine is facing one of the most difficult moments of the war, as a convergence of corruption scandals, political turbulence, financial uncertainty and intensifying Russian offensives places unprecedented strain on the country’s ability to defend itself.
It has been a punishing week for large parts of China, and forecasters warn the worst may not be over. After Typhoon Maysak left a trail of destruction and at least 23 people dead, Super Typhoon Bavi is now threatening the country's eastern coast.
At least 12 people have been killed in forest fires in Almeria in southern Spain, Andalucía’s emergency agency has said, as firefighters continue efforts to put out the blaze.
The death toll from Venezuela's twin earthquakes has risen to 3,811, according to figures released by National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez on Wednesday.
The U.S. military said on Wednesday it launched fresh strikes on Iran to keep the Strait of Hormuz open to shipping, triggering Iranian attacks on Kuwait and Bahrain in the latest escalation to derail efforts to end the war.
The Welsh rock singer Bonnie Tyler, best known for the global hit "Total Eclipse of the Heart," has died aged 75 in Portugal.
A cholera outbreak in Sudan is at risk of spiralling further as fighting, mass displacement and the start of the rainy season make it harder to contain the disease, the World Health Organization (WHO) has warned.
Australia on Friday confirmed the first case of the deadly H5N1 bird flu virus in a native seabird, marking a new phase in the disease's spread after it landed on the country's shores last month.
The number of confirmed Ebola cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo has climbed to 1,759, including 600 deaths, according to government data released on Wednesday.
The World Health Organization has warned that Europe could face "more deadly weeks" as another intense heatwave develops over the Atlantic, urging governments to strengthen emergency preparations before temperatures rise again.
More than 1,300 excess deaths have been recorded across Europe since June 21 as the continent faces extreme heat, World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment