Heat Wave In France

Heat wave hits France

It’s been over a week now that we have been having an unusually hot weather throughout the country, especially in southern France. From Bordeaux to Nice, temperatures are over 35°C, even reaching the 40°C mark (104°F) . In our office in Lunel, the temperature has been around 37-38°C, and except for checking the temperature, there is no need to look at the weather forecast: it’s always a big blue sky with no clouds in the horizon!

A few départements have been put under “vigilance orange”, a level 3 weather alert due to the heat. Nearly all southern départements are on level 2 “vigilance jaune”, and are only a few degrees short of being put under the level 3 alert. Among those in level 3 are the Vaucluse and Drôme départements in Provence. So for all of you cycling or hiking, here are some tips to enjoy your tour without suffering from this heat:

- wear light cotton clothes, wicking clothing

- under the helmet, you can put a cap, hat, or wet bandana to protect your head from the sun. You can also wet it to keep you cool.

- try to leave earlier in the morning to avoid cycling when it’s the hottest (between 12pm and 4pm)

- make sure you always have water with you before you leave, and don’t wait until you are thirsty to drink.

- to help stay hydrated, you can also eat melon, watermelon, grape, plums among other fruits.

- to fill your water bottle, you can stop at a café. Some may ask you to pay for it, so make sure you have some change with you. If you find a fountain in a village, make sure it’s written drinkable water (“potable” in French).

- always wear sunscreen. It’s best to put it 20mn before sun exposure.

from Laura Martinoty