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.
Russia reported a major fire at an Ozon logistics hub in Krasnodar after a drone attack on Monday, while Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelens...
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 24th of August, covering the latest developments. ...
Only four commodity vessels crossed the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday, following 13 transits a day earlier, as disruptions continue to restrict traffi...
Iran on Saturday denounced U.S. plans to announce new sanctions that could put further strain on the Islamic Republic's economy and have an impact on its most important trading partners including China.
A large-scale drone attack has hit Russia's Samara region, damaging facilities and disrupting operations at an Ozon logistics complex, according to regional authorities and the company.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has rejected calls for a wartime election, arguing that holding a vote while Russia's full-scale invasion continues would divide the country and undermine national unity.
A newly created pro-government political party has secured a commanding victory in Kazakhstan's snap parliamentary election, according to exit polls, strengthening President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev's influence at a pivotal moment in the country's political transition.
Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan have elevated bilateral ties with a Treaty on Eternal Friendship signed by Presidents Ilham Aliyev and Shavkat Mirziyoyev in Tashkent on 23 August. The leaders also agreed to expand trade, investment, transport, and regional cooperation.
Australia has confirmed its first case of H5N1 bird flu in a mammal after the virus was detected in a dead long-nosed fur seal in South Australia, authorities said.
Malaysia is facing a sharp rise in dengue infections, with the capital Kuala Lumpur and the wider Klang Valley emerging as the main centres of concern.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo’s Ebola outbreak has surpassed 5,000 confirmed cases, with the death toll reaching 2,378, according to the latest government data.
The Democratic Republic of Congo says the number of confirmed Ebola cases has risen to more than 5,000, with more than 2,300 deaths. Delayed detection, weak surveillance, funding shortages and conflict have allowed the virus to spread faster than in any previous epidemic at the same stage.
Australia warned on Monday (3 August) of a wider spread of H5N1 bird flu after its first confirmed mass mortality event among seabirds killed about 50 greater crested terns off the coast of South Australia, south of Adelaide.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment