France is preparing for another heat wave on Wednesday, with Paris allowing swimming in one of its canals to help residents cope with the extreme temperatures.
This will be the second heatwave spell this year following an unusually hot week in May that shattered records across half the country. Christelle Robert from Meteo-France stated, “A heatwave episode will gradually set in across the country this week.”
Temperatures are expected to reach 36C or 37C on Wednesday before peaking at 40C in some regions on Sunday, coinciding with the national music festival, La Fete de la Musique.
Mayor Emmanuel Gregoire announced that swimming would be allowed from Wednesday evening under lifeguard supervision in one part of the Canal Saint-Martin. He noted that it was absurd to spend so much energy stopping young people from swimming at 40 degrees but warned them about jumping from bridges which remains dangerous and forbidden.
Mayor Alexandra Cordebard of Paris’ 10th district said allowing swimming earlier than scheduled in July is a new way of fighting climate change and adapting the city. Later this summer, swimmers will also be able to cool off at designated points along the Seine River after it reopened for the first time in over a century last year.
Over a billion euros ($1.15 billion) has been invested by Paris to make the waters clean enough for swimming during the 2024 Olympics. Studies and scientific bodies agree that heatwaves in Europe are becoming more frequent due to climate change. Meteo France reports that of the 51 recorded heatwaves nationwide since 1947, 34 have occurred since 2000 and 26 since 2011. The United Nations has warned that global average temperatures may continue at or near record levels this year and for the next four years.