France's national weather service issued its highest-level danger alert Thursday as it warned that parts of the country could expect temperatures to reach an "exceptional peak" Friday amid a record-setting heat wave in Europe.
Meteo France raised the hazardous weather warning to "red," the highest level, for the Marseille and Montpellier areas in southeastern France, forecasting hazardous temperatures of 42-45 degrees Celsius on Friday.
It was the first red alert Meteo France activated since a four-level weather "vigilance" system was introduced following an estimated 15,000 heat-related deaths in France during a 2003 summer heat wave.
"A heat wave of this amplitude so early in the year, in June, is exceptional," Meteo France meteorologist France Christelle Robert said.
"We should expect more intense and frequent heat waves with climate change, because it will accentuate the extremes."
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