It was on a strong drought background that the 1976 heat wave settled on France between June 23 and July 7 (for 2 consecutive weeks). Thousands of people died …
Pami the very intense, severe and long heat waves observed in France, that of the summer of 1976.
What is the 1976 heat wave?
Temperatures started to go up “abnormally“As early as May 1976: May 7 and 8, it made more than 30 ° on Normandy, Picardy, the Paris region, Champagne and Lorraine, recalls Meteo -Paris. This very early heat wave – which concerns above all the northern half – accentuates the drought which started in the fall of 1975. Then from June 6 to 15, 1976, France knows a 2nd wave of heat. The northern half where, for 6 days, temperatures exceeds 30 °. Finally, a 3rd heat wave is falling on France, between June 23 and July 7, 1976 (for 2 consecutive weeks).
How long did the 1976 heat wave lasted?
The heat wave is defined as a very strong level of heat during the day and night for at least three consecutive days indicates the government. The definition of the heat wave is therefore based on two parameters: heat and duration. The 1976 heat wave hit France between June 23 and July 7, 1976 (for 2 consecutive weeks).
What was the maximum temperature during the 1976 heat wave in France?
The maximum temperatures observed in France have not exceeded 40 degrees indicates Meteo-Paris. On July 15 and 16, 1976: he was 38 ° in Aquitaine, 37 ° in Toulouse and 36 ° in Lorraine. You have to go back to 1921 to find such weather conditions. The prolonged absence of rain is disastrous for agriculture, especially in regions which are not used to this kind of phenomenon (Normandy, Picardy and Brittany). The compensation of the victims of the drought is funded by an exceptional increase in income tax. On August 25, 1976, the government announced an aid of € 450 million for agriculture, funded by an exceptional increase in income tax, “drought tax “.
What was the maximum temperature in Paris?
On June 25, Le Figaro titled on “The hottest day“With photos of Parisians on the banks of the Seine or Trocadéro. He then made 33.4 ° C in the capital.”In Paris, the city effect maintains very high temperatures during the night“, Recalls the Meteo-Paris site. On July 4, 1976, the minimum temperature did not descend below 24 ° C at the Paris-Montsouris station, which was at the time an absolute record. On July 6, 1976 in the 8 p.m. newspaper on antenna 2, a Parisian bus driver explains his daily life in dantesque conditions:”We are almost sitting on the engine, and we find ourselves in the middle of the afternoon (…) with 55, 60 ° heat to drive the bus, and you know it is very painful to drive the bus like that. “
How many deaths were deplored during the 1976 heat wave?
This heat wave led to the death of around 4,500 people, according to a public health estimate France published in April 2019.
