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France has been gripped by an extreme heat wave that has broken national temperature records and caused major disruptions across the country, including widespread power outages and early closures at major tourist sites.
On Tuesday, France recorded its hottest day since measurements began in 1947, according to Meteo-France. The national temperature indicator, which averages readings from 30 weather stations, reached 29.8 degrees Celsius (85.64 degrees Fahrenheit), surpassing the previous record of 29.4°C set in 2003 and 2019.
The extreme heat has placed heavy pressure on infrastructure, triggering a major power outage in northwestern France. Around 68,000 households lost electricity after a transformer failure on the grid, which authorities linked to the high temperatures. At the peak of the incident, more than 100,000 customers were affected, with full restoration expected to take time.
Officials confirmed that no injuries were reported. However, the region remains under France’s highest heat alert, with temperatures expected to reach 39°C to 41°C across parts of Brittany and the Paris region.
The heat wave has also disrupted some of France’s most iconic landmarks. In Paris, the Louvre Museum and the Eiffel Tower both announced earlier closing times due to unsafe conditions caused by extreme heat. The Louvre will close at 4:00 p.m. from Wednesday to Saturday. The Eiffel Tower also adjusted its operating hours to protect visitors and staff.
Other popular destinations have also been affected. Mont Saint-Michel in Normandy urged tourists to postpone visits during the red-alert period, warning of difficult and potentially unsafe conditions.
Meteorologists say the intense heat is being driven by persistent atmospheric patterns that trap hot air over Western Europe. Experts warn that such extreme events are becoming more frequent and severe due to climate change.
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