Environment & Climate
France records hottest summer on record following extreme heat and drought
Meteorological data reveals France experienced historic temperatures, widespread wildfires, and a severe rainfall deficit throughout the summer of 2026.
The short version
- France registered its highest average summer temperature since records began in 1900, reaching 24 degrees Celsius.
- The extreme weather fueled severe wildfires, forcing roughly 250,000 people to evacuate near Bordeaux and affecting typically cooler regions.
- National weather agency Meteo France reported a rainfall deficit near 40% and a record 53 heat wave days across the season.
Key facts
- France recorded its hottest summer since 1900, with average day and night temperatures reaching 24 degrees Celsius (75.2 degrees Fahrenheit), which is 3.6 C above normal.[ABC News · Associated Press]
- The 2026 average temperature surpassed the previous summer record set in 2003, when temperatures were 2.7 C above the seasonal normal.[ABC News · Associated Press]
- Meteo France tracked 53 heat wave days across three distinct episodes during the season, surpassing the 33 days recorded in 2022.[ABC News · Associated Press]
- The country marked its second-driest summer on record, experiencing a rainfall deficit close to 40%.[ABC News · Associated Press]
- Wildfires broke out across northern France and Brittany, while a major fire near Bordeaux prompted approximately 250,000 residents to evacuate.[ABC News · Associated Press]
Sources
- France records its hottest summer since measurements began over a century agoAssociated Press
- France records its hottest summer since measurements began over a century agoABC News - International