Paris, Aug. 9 (BNA) France was in the midst of the fourth heat wave of the year as it faced what the government had warned was the worst drought ever seen.
National weather agency Meteo France said the heat wave started in the south and is expected to spread across the country and continue into the weekend, the Associated Press reported.
In general, the southern half of France expects daytime temperatures to reach 40°C (104°F) and ad temperature at night will not drop below 20°C (68°F).
Rising temperatures are not helping firefighters battle wildfires in the Chartreuse mountains near the Alps in eastern France, where authorities have evacuated about 140 people.
Meteorological France said this week’s heat wave would not be as severe as last month’s, when several regions experienced record temperatures. But the high temperatures come during the most severe drought ever recorded, according to the government. Last month was the driest in July since measurements began in 1959.
Some French farmers are beginning to notice a decline in production especially in soybean, sunflower and corn crops.
Water restrictions range from banning irrigation during the day to limiting water use for people and livestock and keeping aquatic organisms alive.
The government said last week that more than 100 municipalities cannot provide drinking water through taps and need water truck supplies.
The heat has also forced energy giant EDF to temporarily cut power generation at some of its nuclear plants, which use river water to cool reactors.