France issued its highest-level heat warnings Saturday (local time) for Paris and more than a quarter of the country's mainland territory, according to AFP. Residents cool off at the Trocadero fountains near the Eiffel Tower in Paris. [Reuters]
France issued its highest-level heat warnings Saturday (local time) for Paris and more than a quarter of the country's mainland territory, according to AFP. Residents cool off at the Trocadero fountains near the Eiffel Tower in Paris. [Reuters]

Europe is in the grip of another record-breaking heat wave.

France issued its highest-level heat warnings Saturday (local time) for Paris and more than a quarter of the country's mainland territory, according to AFP.

The Eiffel Tower, one of Paris's most iconic landmarks, will close at 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday due to the extreme heat.

The tower, which draws about 7 million tourists a year, typically stays open past midnight during peak season.

The Louvre Museum is also operating on reduced hours, closing at 4 p.m. from Thursday through Sunday.

The Musée d'Orsay is likewise closing at 5 p.m. from Saturday through Tuesday.

The abnormal temperatures sweeping Europe have also disrupted the Tour de France, the world's most prestigious road cycling race, which opened July 4.

The Tour de France has decided to shorten some of its hilly stages — a first in the race's history.

Parts of the United States are also suffering under intense heat.

The US National Weather Service forecast temperatures reaching 43 degrees Celsius in the Rocky Mountain and northern regions this weekend.

Montana, North Dakota and neighboring states are expected to see temperatures ranging from 38 to 43 C on Sunday.

AFP projected that about 44 million Americans would be affected by the heat wave.

The heat wave, which began in May, has taken a heavy toll across Europe — more than 2,000 excess deaths were recorded on the continent in June alone.

According to the Copernicus Climate Change Service, the EU's climate monitoring body, western Europe's average temperature last month was 20.74 C — the highest ever recorded for June.

The US has also seen a string of heat-related casualties this year, with Washington, D.C., Philadelphia and Boston either breaking or matching their all-time high temperature records.


shindw@heraldcorp.com