The European country records its hottest summer since measurements began in 1900.

On Thursday, the Meteo France meteorological institute reported that France experienced 53 days across three heat waves this summer.

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At a news conference on the analysis of the “meteorological summer,” Meteo France Director Virginie Schwarz described the number of hot days as “really exceptional.” The previous record for torrid days was set in 2022, with 33.

Meteo France describes heat waves as the period that begins when the national thermal indicator — the average of the meteorological stations used as references — exceeds 25.3°C. It ends when the indicator falls below 23.4°C for more than two consecutive days.

The number of times Meteo France stations exceeded 40°C during the summer increased considerably this year compared with a typical summer, resulting in a completely unprecedented number of heat-wave days in France.

Cet été 2026 a été marqué par une succession de vagues de chaleur et de canicules. L’écart aux normales 1991-2020 atteint +3,6°C en France sur le trimestre juin-juillet-août, un chiffre inédit ! pic.twitter.com/Xa6MMSSk1c

— Météo Express (@MeteoExpress) September 3, 2026

The text reads, “The 2026 summer was marked by a succession of heat waves and extreme temperatures. In France, the deviation from the 1991-2020 average reached +3.6°C during the June-August quarter. An unprecedented figure!”

During the news conference, Ecology Minister Monique Barbut said this was the hottest summer ever recorded since measurements began in 1900.

The heat wave that occurred from June 17 to June 30 was the most intense since meteorological records began in France. Before that, an entirely unprecedented episode of heat, which did not have the characteristics of a heat wave, occurred in late May. This was followed by heat waves from July 4 to July 19 and from July 28 to Aug. 19.

The heat waves have left a provisional toll of more than 7,300 excess deaths in France, below the 15,000 deaths recorded during the summer of 2003.

“Now, the question we must ask ourselves is how will this be remembered? Will it be remembered as the first in a long series that will continue to break records, or as a moment that allowed us to face the challenges of adaptation and mitigation?” Barbut asked, referring to the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

teleSUR/ JF

Sources: EFE – Le Monde

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