Power outage in France as Europe bakes in record heat

France experienced widespread power outages on August 10, 2023, as record-breaking heat gripped Europe. The French national grid operator, RTE, reported that the extreme temperatures led to a surge in demand for electricity, primarily for air conditioning, overwhelming the system. This heatwave, which saw temperatures exceed 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) in several regions, also prompted Italy's Ministry of Health to issue a red heatwave alert for 16 cities, including Milan and Rome. In the United Kingdom, schools in some areas were forced to close their doors due to the dangerous heat. The simultaneous strain on energy infrastructure and public health concerns highlighted the vulnerability of European nations to extreme weather events exacerbated by climate change. The outages in France affected an estimated 500,000 households, according to local news reports, with restoration efforts underway throughout the day.