France records fourth hottest year as heatwaves increase

Météo-France reports that 2025 was the fourth hottest year recorded in the country since 1900, with an average temperature of 14.0°C. The three hottest years on record have all occurred since 2020, and the ten hottest years have all occurred since 2010.

Regarding heatwaves, Météo-France has identified 54 national heatwave episodes since 1947. Two-thirds of these have occurred since the beginning of the 21st century, and more than half since 2010. The summer of 2026 included three episodes totaling 53 days of heat, surpassing the previous annual record of 33 days set in 2022.

The agency noted that heat records were ten times more frequent than cold records, stating that without climate change, the frequency of both would be equal. Additionally, significant soil drought affected 30% of France for four months between May and August 2025. Globally, the Copernicus observatory and Berkeley Earth ranked 2025 as the third hottest year ever recorded.