Paris, June 20, 2025 — France is experiencing an unusually intense early heatwave this week, with temperatures climbing as high as 38°C across parts of the country.
The episode, forecast to peak on Saturday, marks the 50th heatwave recorded since meteorological tracking began in 1947.
“This is a remarkably early heatwave, with temperatures that are extremely high for June, although not completely unprecedented,” said Matthieu Sorel, a climatologist at Météo-France, the national weather agency.
The meteorological summer officially began just 19 days ago, yet the country is already contending with weather conditions typically associated with peak July and August.
The heatwave began intensifying on Thursday, particularly in eastern France, where daytime temperatures ranged between 32°C and 35°C. Météo-France attributes the soaring heat to a blocking anticyclone currently dominating much of Europe.
“This pattern prevents cooler Atlantic air from moving in, allowing for a gradual build-up of heat across France,” explained François Gourand, one of the agency’s senior forecasters.
The situation is expected to worsen on Friday, as a “cold drop” — a pocket of colder air at high altitudes — forms over the Atlantic Ocean. This phenomenon will effectively draw in even hotter air masses from North Africa and the Iberian Peninsula.
As a result, western regions of France are predicted to see temperatures between 34°C and 36°C, while the central-western and Mediterranean zones could hit a scorching 38°C.
Saturday is projected to be the hottest day of the heatwave. According to forecasts, large swathes of the country, especially in the west and along inland Mediterranean areas, will experience persistent temperatures between 34°C and 38°C.
Adding to the discomfort, nighttime temperatures are unlikely to drop below 20°C in many regions — a phenomenon known as “tropical nights.”
This lack of nocturnal relief significantly affects the human body’s ability to recover from daytime heat and poses additional risks for vulnerable populations.
Météo-France has issued warnings about the potential health impacts, urging residents to stay hydrated, limit outdoor activities during peak hours, and check in on the elderly and those with chronic illnesses.
Public health authorities are particularly concerned about the combination of daytime and nighttime heat, which can increase the likelihood of heatstroke, dehydration, and sleep disturbances.
The heatwave is part of a broader trend of more frequent and intense heat episodes across Europe in recent years, attributed to the ongoing climate crisis.
Spain and parts of the United Kingdom are also experiencing elevated temperatures this week, though France appears to be at the epicenter of this particular surge.
While this current heatwave is not expected to break historical temperature records — such as the 46°C recorded in southern France in June 2019 — its timing and persistence are cause for concern.
As climate experts continue to sound alarms over the long-term implications of global warming, France’s 50th heatwave serves as yet another stark reminder of the environmental challenges ahead.
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