Heat waves scorches France; triggers traffic jams

PARIS, July 20 (UPI) -- An army of French tourists went on a slow march to cooler weather Saturday amid a sweltering midsummer heat wave.

Radio France Internationale reported some epic traffic jams on the roads to the Riviera and near the borders with Spain and Italy.

The outskirts of Paris were a mess, with major thoroughfares such as the ringroad and the A10 backed up as much as 35 kilometers (21.7 miles) in some places.

Traffic inched along in sizzling temperatures topping 30 degrees Celsius (86 Fahrenheit).

RFI said the warm weather extended well into the north of France but summer rain storms were predicted in the western areas of Loire, Brittany and Burgundy, as well as the mountains.