https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from France in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed French public health authorities have reported hundreds of excess deaths during the second heatwave of the summer - which spanned two weeks during August. https://www.thelocal.fr/20250912/france-recorded-at-least-280-excess-deaths-during-august-heatwave Fri, 12 Sep 2025 12:47:31 +0200 france-recorded-at-least-280-excess-deaths-during-august-heatwave As the heatwave continues, here are some handy French phrases to grumble about the heat. https://www.thelocal.fr/20190725/nine-french-expressions-to-help-you-celebrate-the-sunshine Thu, 25 Jul 2019 12:05:20 +0200 nine-french-expressions-to-help-you-celebrate-the-sunshine As France's intense August heatwave entered its seventh day, the country's weather forecaster lifted the highest-level red alert, but most of the country remained under orange warnings, with scorching temperatures set to persist. https://www.thelocal.fr/20250811/france-on-red-alert-for-week-of-sweltering-heatwaves Mon, 11 Aug 2025 10:54:50 +0200 france-on-red-alert-for-week-of-sweltering-heatwaves Air conditioning is not common in France, especially in private homes - but there are other ways to keep yourself and your home cool during a heatwave. https://www.thelocal.fr/20250703/7-alternatives-to-air-conditioning-in-france Thu, 03 Jul 2025 18:42:10 +0200 7-alternatives-to-air-conditioning-in-france As France sizzles under what weather forecasters have described as "exceptional" temperatures, French people have been speaking out about the heat, describing it as a 'nightmare', 'hell' and 'not normal'. https://www.thelocal.fr/20250812/not-normal-a-nightmare-french-react-to-searing-heatwave Tue, 12 Aug 2025 16:45:16 +0200 not-normal-a-nightmare-french-react-to-searing-heatwave Heatwaves are becoming more common and more dangerous in France, and it's also increasingly common for events and activities to be cancelled or disrupted by the high temperatures. https://www.thelocal.fr/20250812/what-gets-cancelled-during-heatwaves-in-france Tue, 12 Aug 2025 13:22:45 +0200 what-gets-cancelled-during-heatwaves-in-france France's searing heatwaves can also bring with them some hot, sticky and uncomfortable nights - so here are some tips from experts to help you sleep when it's hot. https://www.thelocal.fr/20220803/dont-sleep-naked-how-to-get-a-good-nights-sleep-in-a-french-heatwave Wed, 03 Aug 2022 12:30:51 +0200 dont-sleep-naked-how-to-get-a-good-nights-sleep-in-a-french-heatwave France regularly issues weather alerts when heatwaves strike - but how dangerous are sizzling days in France? And how can you keep yourself safe? https://www.thelocal.fr/20240626/explained-how-dangerous-are-french-heatwaves Wed, 26 Jun 2024 18:57:42 +0200 explained-how-dangerous-are-french-heatwaves When the heatwaves arrive, you're likely to end up a bit sweaty - luckily, the French language is rich with ways to express that you're feeling somewhat hot and bothered. https://www.thelocal.fr/20200730/pate-in-the-armpits-10-french-ways-to-say-youre-sweating Thu, 30 Jul 2020 17:58:09 +0200 pate-in-the-armpits-10-french-ways-to-say-youre-sweating As France swelters under a heatwave, here's the French government's advice on staying cool. https://www.thelocal.fr/20200806/eat-sufficient-meals-and-shut-the-shutters-french-government-advice-for-staying-cool-in-a-heatwave Thu, 06 Aug 2020 14:06:24 +0200 eat-sufficient-meals-and-shut-the-shutters-french-government-advice-for-staying-cool-in-a-heatwave Summers in France have always been hot, especially in the south, so do the latest wave of extreme weather warnings really mark a rise in temperatures? Or just a change in weather forecasting techniques and media attention? https://www.thelocal.fr/20250715/are-summers-in-france-really-getting-hotter Tue, 15 Jul 2025 14:47:44 +0200 are-summers-in-france-really-getting-hotter Intense heatwaves are leading to increasing numbers of blackouts in France and across Europe - so what's being done to keep the lights (and the fridge) on as temperatures soar? https://www.thelocal.fr/20250718/how-france-aims-to-keep-the-power-on-as-temperatures-soar Fri, 18 Jul 2025 18:41:19 +0200 how-france-aims-to-keep-the-power-on-as-temperatures-soar Two huge wildfires on Tuesday saw people evacuated in France's second-largest city while an airport, train line and several motorways were closed - so is France prepared to deal with its increasingly severe summer fires? https://www.thelocal.fr/20250709/is-france-ready-for-a-summer-of-increasingly-severe-wildfires Wed, 09 Jul 2025 13:30:52 +0200 is-france-ready-for-a-summer-of-increasingly-severe-wildfires Residents returned to their devastated homes on Wednesday after a wildfire on the fringes of Marseille destroyed or severely damaged dozens of houses and turned cars into blackened shells. https://www.thelocal.fr/20250710/marseille-residents-return-to-burnt-out-homes-after-wildfire Thu, 10 Jul 2025 11:16:13 +0200 marseille-residents-return-to-burnt-out-homes-after-wildfire Human-caused climate change made recent European heatwaves up to 4C hotter in many cities, pushing temperatures into deadly territory for thousands of vulnerable people, scientists have said. https://www.thelocal.fr/20250709/climate-change-made-european-heatwave-up-to-4c-hotter-study Wed, 09 Jul 2025 11:03:43 +0200 climate-change-made-european-heatwave-up-to-4c-hotter-study Air conditioning is not standard in French homes, so if you want to install something to help you get through France's increasingly-severe heatwaves, journalist and AC-convert John Walton has some tips on size, price, installation and the rules for historic buildings. https://www.thelocal.fr/20250708/top-tips-for-installing-air-conditioning-in-your-french-home Tue, 08 Jul 2025 12:49:07 +0200 top-tips-for-installing-air-conditioning-in-your-french-home Large parts of the south of France have been declared on red alert - the highest alert level - for wildfires, after a blaze swept through 400 hectares of forest over the weekend. https://www.thelocal.fr/20250707/south-of-france-on-red-alert-for-wildfires Mon, 07 Jul 2025 11:10:28 +0200 south-of-france-on-red-alert-for-wildfires Despite the stifling temperatures in France in recent days, many French people remain deeply resistant to air conditioning - from concerns about health risks, environmental damage and excessive consumerism, here's a look at the French attitude to AC. https://www.thelocal.fr/20250703/analysis-why-are-the-french-resistant-to-air-conditioning Thu, 03 Jul 2025 13:57:46 +0200 analysis-why-are-the-french-resistant-to-air-conditioning As France swelters under an early summer heatwave, a fiery battle has broken out between politicians over the use of air conditioning. https://www.thelocal.fr/20250702/french-politicians-embroiled-in-fiery-debate-over-air-conditioning Wed, 02 Jul 2025 14:23:14 +0200 french-politicians-embroiled-in-fiery-debate-over-air-conditioning France relies heavily on nuclear power – but regularly shuts down reactors when temperatures soar. With summers getting longer and hotter, can the French nuclear sector cope with climate change? https://www.thelocal.fr/20250702/why-france-shuts-down-its-nuclear-reactors-during-heatwaves Wed, 02 Jul 2025 16:24:49 +0200 why-france-shuts-down-its-nuclear-reactors-during-heatwaves