French winter of 2019-2020 hottest on record

Average temperatures across the winter of 2019 to 2020 - for the months of December, January and February - reached 8.1°C, according to the forecaster’s provisional report, published on Friday February 28.

This is the hottest winter on record, since measuring began in 1900.

It was hotter than the previous record, of winter 2015-2016 (up 2.6°C on the average); and the winter of 1989-1990 (up 2°C).

Some areas recorded local temperature records too, with the mercury passing 20°C in the south, and even hitting as high as 25°C in the southwest.

Image: Météo-France / @meteofrance / Twitter

In its report, Météo France said: “It was noticeably mild all season (from December 1 to February 29), and this was accentuated in February, which was already one of the hottest three Februarys on record.

“The temperature was on average, more than 2°C above the normal for December and January, and 3°C above it in February, with several remarkable mild peaks...despite some short cold snaps, France did not see a cold peak during this winter.”