As western Europe contends with another severe heatwave, iconic landmarks in Paris are adjusting their operations. The Eiffel Tower has announced it will exceptionally close at 4 pm on both Saturday and Sunday, while the Louvre Museum will also shutter at 4 pm daily through to Monday. Additionally, the Musée d’Orsay has confirmed it will close its doors at 5 pm from Saturday through to Wednesday.
The extreme weather has prompted Météo-France to place 24 departments across northwestern France under a red heat alert on Saturday, impacting more than 22 million residents. Across most regions, temperatures are expected to hover between 35°C and 38°C, with forecasts suggesting highs could reach 39°C from Burgundy to Pays de la Loire. Much of the remaining country is under an orange alert as the nation prepares for the annual Bastille Day celebrations on 14 July. This event marks the third heatwave to strike France since May.
Paris Mayor Emmanuel Grégoire convened a crisis meeting on Friday to address the rising temperatures. He stated that the city is expanding its heatwave response measures, which include extending the operating hours of swimming pools and parks, providing additional support to vulnerable residents, and ensuring drinking water stations are available.
The impact of the heatwave extends beyond France. In Spain, the national weather agency AEMET warned of temperatures between 36°C and 38°C across much of the Iberian Peninsula. Meanwhile, firefighters in Spain’s southeastern province of Almería have been battling one of the country’s deadliest wildfires, which has claimed at least 12 lives and forced the evacuation of over 1,400 people. Authorities are investigating if a fallen power line sparked the blaze. In northern Italy, the situation is described as critical by the Po River District Basin Authority, as the country’s longest river, the Po, faces a drought that is threatening local farming.
