Evening Update Monday 21 August 2023

Four departments in south central France have been placed on a rare top-level Meteo France red alert for high temperatures from midday tomorrow. The departments are the Drome, Ardeche, Rhone and Haut-Loire. The Alpes-Maritimes and the Var are still on a Meteo France Orange level alert until at least midnight tomorrow. An orange alert is the third highest level of out of the four levels used by Meteo France.

The Monaco government has said that, according to air quality data, the "information threshold" for Ozone pollution is likely to be reached today. It has issued several recommendations including advising vulnerable or sensitive people to limit intense physical and sporting activities in the open air, to limit outings in the hottest hours, and to seek advice from a pharmacist or doctor in the event of respiratory or cardiac discomfort such as shortness of breath, wheezing or palpitations. Meanwhile, the prefectures of the Var and the Alpes-Maritimes have declared a level 1 pollution alert. Measures include the reduction of speed limits on motorways.

In this period of high heat, the CCAS social services personnel in Nice have put measures in place to help senior citizens. All Ville de Nice and CCAS facilities have been opened to offer cool shelter to all those who need it.

There are major disruptions on the A8 motorway between Cannes and Nice in the direction of Italy this evening after three separate accidents. According to motorway operator VINCI Autoroutes, a first accident involving 2 cars and a van occurred at around 3 p.m. near Antibes. At 4:10 p.m., a second accident involving 6 vehicles occurr