France records ‘hottest summer ever’ in 2026

France experienced its hottest summer on record in 2026, with an average temperature of 24 degrees Celsius, 3.6 degrees above the norm. This extreme heat, which included multiple severe heatwaves, resulted in 2,025 excess deaths, particularly among those over 45. The summer was also exceptionally dry, with rainfall deficits of nearly 40 percent, making it the second driest since measurements began. France joins Belgium, Britain, and Ireland in recording their hottest summers, highlighting Europe's rapid warming. French officials are now contemplating whether this record-breaking summer will be the first of many or a catalyst for adaptation and mitigation efforts.

France experienced its hottest summer on record since measurements began in 1900, with an average temperature of 24 degrees Celsius (75.2 F), 3.6 C above normal. This heatwave, part of a broader trend in Europe, was accompanied by severe drought, making it the second driest year on record with a nearly 40% rainfall deficit. The extreme conditions fueled wildfires, including a major blaze near Bordeaux that forced a quarter of a million people to evacuate. The summer saw an unprecedented 53 days of heatwaves across three episodes. Record ocean temperatures were also recorded along France's coastlines, and hot spells occurred outside the summer months, indicating climate change.