The heatwave of August 2003 remains the most severe and one of the most lasting in modern history in France. This climatic tragedy has deeply marked the collective memory by causing nearly 15,000 deaths in the space of just two weeks.
A heatwave is defined as a level of very high heat during the day and night for at least three consecutive days, reminds the government. The definition of a heatwave is thus based on two parameters: heat and duration. That of 2003 particularly marked people’s minds due to its intensity, with temperatures regularly exceeding 40°C in the afternoon and never falling below 25°C at night.
When was the heatwave in 2003?
In August 2003, the weather situation is “classic“for a summer”with high pressures over Western Europe“, underlines Météo France, but… “its duration is unusual and it brings very hot and very dry air coming from the southern Mediterranean. High pressures form an obstacle to the passage of storm disturbances.” Temperatures began to rise between August 1 and 5. From August 4, temperatures above 35°C were observed in two thirds of meteorological stations, spread across all French regions. “Temperatures above 40°C were recorded in 15% of stationsincluding Brittany which has never happened before since the beginning of temperature measurements“, writes Météo France.
How long did the 2003 heatwave last?
The heatwave of August 2003 was exceptional in its duration (two weeks) between August 1 and 15, reminds Météo France. The heat wave of August 2003 was accompanied by marked ozone pollution, both in duration and intensity.
What was the maximum temperature in France?
Absolute maximum temperature records were broken during the first twelve days of August 2003 on more than 70 weather stations (from a set of 180 stations, representative sample of French cities), Météo France analyzes. The absolute temperature record in France was recorded in stations of Saint-Christol-les-Alès and Conqueyrac in the Gard, with 44.1 °Cbeating the record held by Toulouse-Francazal (44.0 °C on August 8, 1923, a value equaled several times, notably at Vallon-Pont-d’Arc in Ardèche, July 6, 1982 and July 30, 1983). It took 16 years for this new record to be broken: on June 28, 2019, it reached 46°C in Vérargues (Hérault).
What was the maximum temperature in Paris?
In Paris, from August 4 to 12, the maximum temperature was exceeded 36 degrees, for 9 consecutive days. From August 3 to 14, nighttime temperatures are not never fell below 20 degrees in the capital, recalls Le Parisien. 39.5 C was the maximum temperature reached in Paris on August 11, 2003. 19 years later, it is still an absolute record for the month of August in the capital.
How many deaths were recorded in 2003?
The cumulative number of excess deathsapproximately 14,800 between August 1 and 20, i.e. a 60% increase compared to expected mortality, specifies Santé Publique France, according to an Inserm survey. Excess mortality:
► Particularly high, +70%, among subjects aged 75 and over,
► Very important too, +30%, in all age groups between 45 and 74 years old.
► A increase in mortality of 40% in men and 60% in women.
Excess mortality affected the whole of France, even in departments where the number of heatwave days was low. It was very pronounced in the Center region: +100%, and in Ile-de-France: +130%. The Ile-de-France region alone totaled almost a third of all excess mortality observed in mainland France. In Paris, it amounts to + 127%. The numbers of deaths that took place at home and in retirement homes were approximately doubled compared to their usual value and the excess deaths occurred for:
- 42% in hospitals,
- 35% at home,
- 19% in retirement homes.
In the cases of excess mortality observed in 2003, causes directly linked to heat (heat stroke, dehydration, hyperthermia) represent 28.9% of deaths, cardiovascular diseases 20.6% and diseases of the respiratory system 7.7%.
Information collected from other European countries supports the health impact of different heat waves that occurred at different times and with varying intensities in Western Europe during the summer of 2003. It seems that France is the European country that was most affected by the heat wave, recognizes Santé Publique France.
What health measures were born from the 2003 heatwave?
Given the scale of the health impact of the August 2003 heat wave in France, studies or actions in the field of surveillance and alert have been put in place, specifies Santé Publique France. A partnership has been developed with Météo France in order to develop an operational alert system, an integral part of a national action plan put in place by the health authorities to deal with future heat waves. Since this dramatic event, a heat alert system, based on prevention, was put in place. This is the heatwave plan. In the years that followed, numerous measures were taken: each establishment that accommodates elderly people has at least one air-conditioned room. Isolated people are identified and visited. Finally, the prevention messages are widely broadcast on television.
