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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| France heatwave: Paris region closes schools | France heatwave: Paris region closes schools |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| France is starting to close dozens of schools because of a heatwave, with temperatures expected to climb above 40C (104F) in some regions on Thursday. | France is starting to close dozens of schools because of a heatwave, with temperatures expected to climb above 40C (104F) in some regions on Thursday. |
| About 50 schools in the Essonne region, just south of Paris, are being shut, as they lack sufficient air conditioning. | About 50 schools in the Essonne region, just south of Paris, are being shut, as they lack sufficient air conditioning. |
| On Thursday, French BFMTV says, schools will also be shut in the Val-de-Marne and Seine-et-Marne regions near Paris. | On Thursday, French BFMTV says, schools will also be shut in the Val-de-Marne and Seine-et-Marne regions near Paris. |
| In parts of northeastern Spain the heat is expected to reach 45C on Friday. Germany and Italy are still below 40C. | In parts of northeastern Spain the heat is expected to reach 45C on Friday. Germany and Italy are still below 40C. |
| The exceptionally hot air has blown in from the Sahara. | The exceptionally hot air has blown in from the Sahara. |
| What measures have been put in place? | |
| Switzerland is also sizzling, but there the authorities insist that schools will remain open, because working parents cannot be expected to look after their children during the day. | Switzerland is also sizzling, but there the authorities insist that schools will remain open, because working parents cannot be expected to look after their children during the day. |
| French officials decided that in Paris and Lyon only the least polluting vehicles would be allowed on the roads from Wednesday. Paris is especially prone to smog in hot weather. | French officials decided that in Paris and Lyon only the least polluting vehicles would be allowed on the roads from Wednesday. Paris is especially prone to smog in hot weather. |
| Parisian drivers are also being offered free parking places to encourage them to use public transport instead. | Parisian drivers are also being offered free parking places to encourage them to use public transport instead. |
| France was traumatised by a heatwave in 2003 which was blamed for 15,000 extra deaths. | France was traumatised by a heatwave in 2003 which was blamed for 15,000 extra deaths. |
| Nearly all of France is now on orange alert - the second-highest warning level after red - with local authorities issuing advice on how to keep cool. | Nearly all of France is now on orange alert - the second-highest warning level after red - with local authorities issuing advice on how to keep cool. |
| A Spanish weather forecaster tweeted a map of Spain turning dark red, with the message: "Hell is coming." | A Spanish weather forecaster tweeted a map of Spain turning dark red, with the message: "Hell is coming." |
| In the state of Saxony-Anhalt, eastern Germany, speed limits have been imposed on motorways because of the risk of severe heat damaging road surfaces. | In the state of Saxony-Anhalt, eastern Germany, speed limits have been imposed on motorways because of the risk of severe heat damaging road surfaces. |
| Meanwhile, police in the state of Brandenburg tweeted a photo of a man who went to extraordinary lengths to keep cool - he was stopped riding his motorbike naked. | Meanwhile, police in the state of Brandenburg tweeted a photo of a man who went to extraordinary lengths to keep cool - he was stopped riding his motorbike naked. |
| Is climate change to blame? | |
| Linking a single event to global warming is complicated. | |
| While extreme weather events like heatwaves occur naturally, experts say these will happen more often because of climate change. | |
| Temperature records going back to the late 19th Century show that the average temperature of the Earth's surface has increased by about one degree since industrialisation. | |
| A climatology institute in Potsdam, Germany, says Europe's five hottest summers since 1500 have all been in the 21st Century. | |
| Scientists are concerned that rapid human-induced warming has serious implications for the stability of the planet's climate. | |
| What measures are you taking to cope with the heatwave? Share your stories. Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk | What measures are you taking to cope with the heatwave? Share your stories. Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk |
| Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
| Or use the form below: | Or use the form below: |