The thermometer should rise to 36-38°C on Saturday, with local peaks reaching 39-40°C on Sunday and Monday. Yes, 40°C. In Strasbourg. In June. (We checked twice.) And what makes this episode particularly worrying is its duration. The most pessimistic forecasts suggest a heat dome stretching until the middle of next week, with nights that won’t go below 20-23°C. In other words: no overnight recovery, no respite.
A stifling city
This is not an isolated anomaly. It is human-caused climate change expressing itself, and these events are becoming more frequent, earlier, and more intense. So, what do we do? Here are some reminders that may seem basic but really do save lives:
- Drink water: Not from...rosé, not coffee, just water. And preferably at room temperature, because ice-cold water might feel refreshing, but it actually requires your body to work harder to warm it up, leading to the opposite effect: you feel hot! And definitely drink before you get thirsty, because by then, it's already too late.
- Go out at off-peak times: Early in the morning or late in the evening, and definitely not for running (really not). If you have to stay indoors during the day, what’s better than
- Closing the shutters during the day: It's the Mediterranean reflex we haven’t quite embraced here yet. Closed shutters in the morning keep the indoor air much cooler than any fan pushing around warm air.
This weekend, Strasbourg is going to heat up. Take care of yourself and others!