France weather: New storm names announced and heatwave warnings issued

Météo-France has released the official list of 21 names for the 2026-2027 storm season. The names, which include Adam, Bruna, Charles, and Diane, were selected following a public consultation involving over 40,000 participants. This naming convention is part of a coordinated effort by the “South-West group”—comprising meteorological services from France, Spain, Portugal, Belgium, Luxembourg, and Andorra—to improve communication and public engagement during severe weather events.

Separately, meteorological models indicate that the recent period of cooler temperatures in France may be temporary. Following a summer that recorded the hottest temperatures in the country since 1900, the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) predicts a sixth heatwave starting in September. Forecasts suggest temperatures could be 1 to 1.5°C above the 1991-2020 averages, potentially making France one of the warmest countries in Europe during that period.