France sets record for heatwave days in summer 2026
France experienced 52 days of heatwaves since mid-June 2026, breaking its previous national record for the most heatwave days in a single summer.
France recently recorded an unprecedented number of heatwave days during the summer of 2026, surpassing its previous record set just two years earlier in 2022. The country experienced 52 days of extreme heat, with three consecutive heatwaves lasting 14, 16, and 22 days respectively, according to Agence France-Presse reporting data from the national meteorological service Météo-France.
This comes as the year 2026 emerged as the most affected by heatwaves in France since climate records began in 1947. The nation also experienced its highest-ever average daily temperatures of 42.6 degrees Celsius on June 24 and 25, breaking the previous record set in 2003. These heatwaves were accompanied by widespread drought and wildfires across parts of Europe, underscoring the intensifying impact of climate change on extreme weather events.
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