Weather and Social Temperatures in Early June in Paris

Text/Photos by Chen Chi-Hsiang. This year’s global climate has been bizarre. Taiwan experienced sweltering heat reaching 38°C (reported as the highest temperature in 120 years), while Hokkaido in Japan saw rare June snowfall. Many provinces in France were flooded (reported as the most severe rain disaster in 130 years, causing massive crop losses); Germany and Austria also suffered flooding from the Rhine River, leading to widespread transportation disruptions.

Since my return to Paris, blue skies and white clouds have been hard to find. The Seine River rose significantly, and temperatures remained consistently low; today’s Paris temperature was only 14°C, with continuous overcast skies and rain lasting nearly a week. Over ten provinces were flooded, and the Seine overflowed onto the streets.

Coinciding with this weather, protests triggered by legislative changes to labor clauses reached a climax, paralyzing transportation. Subways, national trains, Air France flights, most nuclear power plants, and refineries went on strike. Gas stations ran out of fuel, and with no public transport available, workers and the government faced a helpless standoff, leaving us to watch and wait.

France remains on high alert for terrorist attacks. With the European Cup soccer tournament approaching next week, the strikes will create chaos. Security concerns seem unmanageable, and amidst this precarious situation, all we can do is observe quietly and pray for everything to be okay.