Power cut hits a million homes

NEARLY a million homes were left without power in Pays-de-la-Loire and Brittany last night as the heatwave damaged national grid power transmission equipment.

Power was restored progressively through the night and this morning only a few hundred homes in Brittany, at Saint-Malo, were still without electricity.

The cuts came as canicule heatwave alerts were extended across another 14 departments, making a total of 40 where residents have been warned to take care and follow advice on how to keep cool and look after older neighbours.

Temperatures are soaring in the areas covered by the alert - Auvergne, Bourgogne, Franche-Comté, Ile-de-France, Limousin plus the departments of Ain (01), Aisne (02), Aube (10), Cher (18), Dordogne (24), Indre (36), Loire (42), Loiret (45), Lot (46), Lot-et-Garonne (47), Marne (51), Haute-Marne (52), Meurthe-et-Moselle (54), Meuse (55), Nord (59), Rhône (69) and Vosges (88).

Météo France said a wave of very warm and dry air was moving north-east across France and would bring temperatures above 35C in many regions and 40C in Paris, with 37C in Nantes, 38C in Limoges and more than 40C in Gironde.

La nuit a été chaude : 24°C à Ambérieu, 23°C à Lyon, Le Havre, Le Mans, 22°C à Paris, Bordeaux, Angers, 21°C à Rennes #canicule— Météo-France (@meteofrance) July 1, 2015

Paris is also affected by an air pollution alert – just as it brings in its ban on pre-2001 diesel buses, coaches and lorries entering the city between 8.00 and 20.00 – a ban which will be extended to all older cars and vans in 12 months.

This morning storms broke out in Dordogne and Météo France warned of a band of thunderstorms moving from northern Aquitaine and Midi-Pyrénées to Limousin and Brittany before moving into Normandy this afternoon.

A special helpline has been set up (in French) for anyone suffering and needing help in the heat at - 0800 06 66 66.

Tips for avoiding the heat include taking advantage of the summer sales to spend time in air-conditioned shopping centres and also to head for the cool cinema on the last day of Fête du Cinéma, offering €4 entry.

La vague de chaleur s’étend en France #canicule http://t.co/IvZC9d2JSJ pic.twitter.com/QtBFg2wEPJ— Le Monde (@lemondefr) June 30, 2015

Children in Bordeaux and Nice have been heading straight for the cities’ giant miroir d’eau water features but those left at home should have windows and shutters closed (open windows in the cool of the night) and rig up a simple cooler with a bottle of frozen water sitting in front of an electric fan.

Similarly, think of doing a load of washing and leaving it up to dry inside to benefit from the moist air.

Unplug all non-vital electric appliances as they give off heat even when on stand-by.

Eat cool or cold foods and make sure to drink at least 1.5litres of water each day (but cool water, not chilled). Cold soups such as gazpacho are ideal and cold hard-boiled eggs give vital protein and salt if added. Stick some grapes in the freezer for a little cool treat.

Avoid alcohol. This tip from Gifak.net shows how to make a fresh watermelon fruit drink... for the DIY expert.

Remember your animals as the heat has the same effect on them as on yourself: so give plenty of water and create cool places for them to lie. Add ice cubes to their water and crush up ice.

Take a tip from your pet: you will not see them romping around in the sun and they will prefer to rest. Do likewise.

Stay cool today people, it's going to be a scorcher! #Heatwave pic.twitter.com/ooW3a3ls2m— lastminute.com (@lastminute_com) July 1, 2015

Think, too, of your plants and the garden: create shade where you can for fragile flowers, dead head your flowers so they do not waste resources, avoid watering during the daytime and avoid getting water on leaves – it is better to water in the evening to avoid evaporation loss.

Save on water by mulching round the base of plants and hoeing out weeds – but avoid being like Mad Dogs and Englishmen being out in the midday sun.

Elsewhere, Twitter users have not been slow in giving advice, with Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo offering some tips.

[Alerte Canicule] Les bons réflexes à adopter pic.twitter.com/XRKM6lqCiE— Anne Hidalgo (@Anne_Hidalgo) June 30, 2015