France, the country suffering the worst from the heat, experienced its hottest day ever yesterday, according to the BBC. The scorching weather is also spreading further east to the Alps and to the Pyrenees in the south.
Melting glaciers
In the Chamonix Valley, climbers are flocking to the glaciers to escape the heat. However, rescue services have issued warnings about increased danger in snow-covered areas.
Warning issued by ‘La Chamoniarde.’ The photo was taken yesterday in the Mont Blanc massif.
“Conditions in the high mountains are deteriorating day by day,” the Chamonix Association for Prevention and Safety in the Mountains, known as La Chamoniarde, reported yesterday. “Overnight refreezing is almost non-existent up to 4,000m, and several snow bridge collapses have been reported in the last 24 hours.”
They strongly recommend that mountaineers stick to secure rock routes.
Wide open crevasses at the Mont Blanc massif. Photo: ‘La Chamoniarde’
However, as we’ve learned in recent years, even rock is often unstable under these conditions. As permafrost melts in the heat, rockfalls increase in frequency and size.
Climbing goes on year-round on the Mont Blanc massif, but the busiest time runs from mid-June to mid-September. Yesterday, for instance, there was a good summit day on Mont Blanc:
Climbers on the summit of Mont Blanc yesterday. Photo: Madison Mountaineering
Red alert
Most of France remains on red alert (the highest level of risk) due to extremely high temperatures. MeteoFrance issued an alarming report today at 06:05 CEST.
Everyone is in danger, even those in good health. Danger is greater for elderly people, people suffering from chronicle diseases or from mental health troubles, people who regularly take medicine and people who are isolated. Watch for dehydration and heatstroke, especially in athletes and people working outside. Pay attention to children. Heatstroke symptoms are : a fever above 40°C, hot, red and dry skin, headaches, nausea, drowsiness, intense thirst, confusion, convulsions and loss of consciousness.
Forecast for this afternoon in France. Graph: MeteoFrance
The forecast today predicts that very high temperatures will continue. The afternoon carries a high chance of thunderstorms on the west coast and in the mountains, adding further danger.
