France on Sunday, had to brace for a fourth heatwave this summer as its worst drought on record left parched villages without safe drinking water and farmers warned about the shortage of milk in winter.
Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne’s office has set up a crisis team to tackle a drought that has left many villages dependent on truck water supplies, prompting state service company EDF EDF.PA limit nuclear power output and put stress on crops.
Temperatures are expected to hit 37 degrees Celsius in the southwest on Sunday before hot air spreads northward early in the week.
“This new heat wave is likely to emerge,” said La Chaine Meteo, similar to the US cable service The Weather Channel.
National weather agency Meteo France said it was the worst drought since records began in 1958 and the drought is expected to get worse until at least mid-month. On average, less than 1 cm of rain fell across France in July.
This year’s corn harvest is expected to be 18.5% lower than in 2021, as Europeans dispute higher food prices due to lower-than-usual grain exports from Russia, the agriculture ministry said. and Ukraine. Read full story
Meanwhile, a shortage of fodder because of the drought means there could be a milk shortage in the coming months, the National Federation of Farmers’ Associations said.
Nuclear operator EDF last week reduced power output at a plant in southwestern France due to rising temperatures in the Garonne River, and it issued a roll-out warning for reactors along the Rhone.
The hot weather has exacerbated utility problems, with corrosion problems and lengthy maintenance at half of the 56 reactors running down capacity as Europe faces an energy crisis. quantity. Read full story
Restrictive water regulations are in place across most of mainland France to conserve water, including in many places bans on pipelines and irrigation.
(Reporting by Richard Lough; Editing by Hugh Lawson)
