What does “le soleil tape” mean in French?

Taper is to hit or bang something. Turned on the weather it describes heat you feel physically: le soleil tape means the sun is beating down hard enough to be unpleasant, and ça tape aujourd’hui works on its own. It says more than il fait chaud, because the point is the force of it — the reason you put a hat on, or open an umbrella.

It is one use among several for a busy verb. Taper à la porte is to knock, taper un texte is to type it, and in casual speech se taper quelque chose is to land yourself with a chore you would rather not have: je me suis tapé trois heures de route.