Heat arrived in repeated waves, while rain disappeared from the forecast. The resulting strain is now visible in forests, soil and government planning.
France has experienced the hottest summer since meteorological records began in 1900. The average temperature in summer 2026 was 24 °C – 3.6 °C above the climatic average.
This is reported by TF1, citing data from Météo-France.
This season will go down in history as the hottest ever recorded.
– Monique Barbu, France’s Minister for Ecological Transition
France records unprecedented heat
June and July 2026 were the hottest on record. August ranked second, surpassed only by August 2003.
France was hit by three heat waves over the summer. In total, unusually high temperatures lasted for 53 days. The previous record for the longest period of hot weather was set in 2022, when the heat lasted 33 days.
At the same time, the country faced a severe lack of rainfall. Precipitation over the season was approximately 40% below normal. In terms of drought, summer 2026 was the second-driest in France since 1959, while average soil moisture fell to an unprecedented low.
Meteorologists link the extreme weather conditions to the prolonged dominance of high-pressure systems over the country. These systems blocked the movement of weather fronts that could have brought rain. The additional influence of global warming led to prolonged heat, an excessive number of sunshine hours, and drying soils.
According to France’s national weather service, heat this intense would have been virtually impossible without human-driven climate change.
Drought increases the threat of wildfires
The combination of high temperatures and a lack of moisture contributed to large-scale wildfires. The departments of Var and Gironde were among those worst affected by the fires.
By the end of August, the area affected by fires was six times larger than the average recorded over the past 20 years. Dry conditions increased the risk of fires spreading rapidly and made the work of firefighting services more difficult.
Government prepares climate change adaptation plan
The French government has announced measures aimed at speeding up implementation of the national climate change adaptation plan. Monique Barbu is expected to present the relevant proposals by the end of September, along with a five-year plan for financing them.
Among the ministry’s top priorities, Barbu identified protecting school buildings from excessive heat and improving firefighters’ access to forested areas. The record-breaking summer was another warning for France of the need to prepare for more frequent and longer periods of extreme temperatures.