Sizzling in the Hexagon: France Endures Third Consecutive Scorching Summer
- The summer of 2024 has been confirmed as the third in a row to record above-normal temperatures for the country, according to the French Meteorological Agency's seasonal report.
- The agency's findings indicate that the summer of 2024 was also hotter than normal, with two significant heat waves and a period of intense localized thunderstorms.
- A breakdown of the season's temperatures reveals that June was relatively normal, while July was 0.6 degrees warmer than average, and August was 1.5 degrees warmer.
France Records Third Consecutive Summer of Above-Normal Temperatures
The summer of 2024 has been confirmed as the third in a row to record above-normal temperatures for the country, according to the French Meteorological Agency’s seasonal report.
The agency’s findings indicate that the summer of 2024 was also hotter than normal, with two significant heat waves and a period of intense localized thunderstorms.
A breakdown of the season’s temperatures reveals that June was relatively normal, while July was 0.6 degrees warmer than average, and August was 1.5 degrees warmer. This results in an overall increase of 0.7 degrees above normal temperatures between 1991 and 2020.
Heat Waves and Thunderstorms
France experienced its first “short but intense” heat wave of the season between July 29 and August 2, affecting the southern half of the country. A second heat wave followed between August 6 and 13, impacting a large part of French territory, excluding the northwestern region.
The French Meteorological Agency notes a concerning trend in heat wave frequency, stating that “Before 1989, we observed a heat wave in our country every 5 years on average. Since 2000, heat waves have returned almost every year.”