Twenty-Five

Showers and thunderstorms should bring welcome relief from the heat on Friday, according to Meteolux. Morning temperatures will range from 17 to 19 degrees, warming up to a maximum of 25 degrees in the afternoon, and cooling down to 17 to 19 degrees in the evening.[1]

25 degrees.[1]

Nine days ago, the temperature hit 34. The yellow alert stretched from day one to day seven and beyond. The Vigilance Rouge gave way to the orange alert. The orange alert gave way to the drinking water restrictions. The restrictions gave way to the river extraction ban. The ban gave way to the record-low water levels. The low water gave way to the diesel spill in the Moselle. The spill gave way to the fire risk warning. The warning gave way to the ten fires. The ten fires gave way to the thirteenth fire in Consdorf. The fire in Consdorf gave way to the thunderstorms.[1]

And the thunderstorms give way to 25 degrees. The heatwave is over. The cascade is not.[1]

The Moselle is still at a record low. The diesel is still in the river. The corn is still curled. The hospital rooms are still 30 degrees. The pension reserve is still at its lowest since 2013. The 1,700 people who were missing in the Ahr Valley are still the 1,700 people who were missing. The 75,814 interventions happened. The 70 centimetres of margin in Rosport-Mompach are still 70 centimetres. The seven measures to revive construction are still seven measures, and the risk that demand goes up without supply following is still a risk.[1]

The heatwave lasted nine days. The yellow alert became the orange alert became the drinking water ban became the river extraction ban became the fire risk became the fires became the thunderstorms. The temperature dropped from 34 to 25. The cascade does not end when the temperature drops. It changes form. The heat goes. The consequences stay.[1]