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Temperatures could climb up to 40 ° on almost the whole of the Hexagon (illustration). PASCAL PAVANI / AFP

France is preparing to know this week a rare epic event by its precocity and intensity. Only one unknown: its duration. Météo France has a minimum of six days.

France had never experienced such a phenomenon in June. Hot air from the Maghreb and Spain will first hit the central and northeastern regions of the country. But from Tuesday, June 25, temperatures of 35 to 40 degrees are expected in the vast majority of regions. They are expected to peak on Wednesday and Thursday. Only the Atlantic coast should remain below the 35 ° mark.

🌡 Strong #chaleurs expected this week. Here are the maps of # temperatures expected day by day. #canicle pic.twitter.com/ywj7NbSNbA

Weather-France (@meteofrance) June 23, 2019

Unsurprisingly, large cities will suffer the most. Mercury could be up to ten degrees higher than in the countryside. Temperatures felt could climb up to 48 ° in Paris. In any case, they will remain very high, including at night. " It's linked to the fact that there is a lot of absorbing surface: buildings, roads ... ", explains climatologist Jean Jouzel.

Another problem is poor air quality, due in part to car pollution. " We have a concentration of this near-ground pollution that is linked to the presence of the anticyclones, " observes climatologist Hervé Le Treut. " We know that in major episodes of heat wave, such as that of 2003, the expected mortality is caused by the direct effect of heat and that, more indirectly, related to the quality of the air. "

The public authorities assure themselves to be strongly mobilized. The Health Minister Agnès Buzin says to "do everything possible so that there are no holes " in the hospital emergency planning during this first episode of heat wave.

► Read more - Heatwave: nearly 15,000 dead in three weeks