Key Points

• According to Météo France, the heat wave that began on Thursday, June 18, proved to be widespread, prolonged, and intense, with a severity level close to that of 2003. The peak was reached between Wednesday, June 24, and Saturday, June 27, in the Grand Est region. Starting on Sunday, June 28, the region gradually shifted from an orange alert to a yellow alert, from west to east, due to thunderstorms and a drop in temperatures.
• A regional analysis of emergency care utilization shows an increase in the composite health indicator iCanicule (which includes cases of hyperthermia, dehydration, and hyponatremia) since the start of the heatwave, with a sharp rise beginning on June 25 (the date the entire region was placed under a red alert). This trend is at a higher level than expected.
• The trends in the monitored indicators are fairly varied at the departmental level, but there has been an increase in indicators across all departments, with the most affected areas fluctuating depending on the specific days considered.