Wave of heat is expected today to strike a large part of France, from Paris to the Centraleast, with temperatures approaching more and more 40°C.
While summer officially starts only Sunday, 26 laws are on alert in the orange tier for heat waves, from the Paris area to the east, including Burgundy.
And this heat episode "is expected to last until next week, according to the Météo-France national weather service.
The peak of heat is expected on Sunday or Monday, with the rise of temperature further deteriorating from the summer solstice, the longest day of the year and therefore most hours of sunshine.
The heats, which occur "all and earlier" and coincide with periods of exams or cultural events (such as the Festival of Music on 21 June) and sporting events such as the World Cup (11 June-19 July), have a "direct effect on the organization, regardless of age", notes France's Public Health Service in its announcement.
Once again, mayors face a dilemma: to close schools, risking the interruption of courses, or to keep them open, sometimes at the expense of children's welfare. The stifling heat also proves particularly difficult for high school students who take written exams for the diploma, the national high school diploma, in overheated classes. Tests are completed today.
Education Minister Eduard Zefre announced Tuesday that conducting oral examinations for the diploma could be carried out on site, by "a few hours or a few days".
On Sunday, the minister expressed his desire "no consideration" not to be held at afternoons.
For its part, SNCF, France's national railway operator, cancelled 71 train routes scheduled from Thursday to Monday due to possible damage to the air conditioning system.
This is the second wave of heat in only a few weeks that hits France, which in May experienced unprecedented temperatures for the month.
These waves of heat are increasingly marked under the influence of climate change, powered by the mass use of fossil fuels.
In EuropeSpain and the United Kingdom are also threatened by very high temperatures. France faces "all too often, numerous and intense waves of heat, an obvious indication of climate change", points out Mathieu Sorell, a climatologist at Météo-France.
Having been criticised by the opposition for its "lack of preparation" during the previous heat wave, the government intends to demonstrate its mobilisation.
"France is placed as one of the leading countries in terms of adaptation," said Eco-Transition Minister Monique Barbu.