28.3C: new February temperature record set in south-west France
Records broken across the country but risk of late frosts remains
Conditions resembled those more typical of May than February. Photo shows sunshine in Valbonne, Provence
Daniela Exley / Alamy
Record temperatures were reached across several areas of south-west France yesterday (February 24), as conditions resembled more May than winter.
A high of 28.3C was recorded in Orthez (Pyrénées-Atlantiques), beating the previous local February record of 27.1C at the nearby meteorological station.
A 27C recording in Biarritz was 14C above typical February averages, and thermometers reached 26C in Pau (both in Pyrénées-Atlantiques), 25°C in Mont-de-Marsan (Landes), and 22°C in Toulouse (Haute-Garonne), all well above averages.
Unlike previous unseasonably high temperatures in the south-west, the foehn effect was only partly responsible, as areas far exceeding the Pyrénées foothills saw unseasonable warmth.
The temperatures were largely caused by a dominant high-pressure wind system from the Azores that is currently positioned over France, sweeping away storms and bringing calm weather to most of the country.
Despite recent heavy flooding and storms, national average temperatures in France have been above average for more than 40 days, and forecasts for early March points to this continuing.
North also sees record temperatures
Although records were broken in the south-west, areas across France registered temperatures far higher than usual.
In the north, minimum temperatures – meaning the thermometer did not drop below this level – of 12.2°C in Beauvais and 11.8°C in Margny-lès-Compiègne (both Oise) were seen on Tuesday, beating previous February records.
In Paris, temperatures close to 20C were recorded, little over a week after the capital saw some snowfall.
Risk of late frosts
State forecaster Météo France said that unseasonable conditions are becoming more and more common in a context of climate change, and that warmer temperatures are to be expected earlier in the year.
Despite the current warm spell there is still time for cold snaps to arrive in spring, particularly those that bring morning frosts, which can devastate the agricultural sector.
Warmer than usual temperatures can lead to the early blooming of flowers and emergence of crops, which are then vulnerable to frosts.
Vineyards are particularly susceptible, as are fruit orchards, as sudden frosts following a bloom can eliminate most of a yield.
