Summer 2022 has been second hottest since records began in France

This summer in France has been the second hottest on record and the hottest since 2003, national weather service Météo-France has reported.

“Not only have hot extremes been frequent, but there have been no really cool days nationwide since early July,” the service stated.

More details about this summer’s temperatures are to be unveiled by the meteorological service later tonight (August 30).

The average temperature this year over the summer months (June, July and August) has been 22.67C, slightly lower than the 23.10C recorded in 2003.

On several occasions and in multiple places, especially in the south-west of France, temperatures have surpassed 40C. Nantes, in Pays de la Loire, broke its all-time temperature record on July 18 with the peak temperature of 42C.

Read more: Annecy, Lyon, Avignon: The French towns most at risk of rising heat

In Marseille, temperatures have remained above 25C for 113 consecutive days, while in other places along the Mediterranean coast temperatures have been “four to five degrees higher than normal”, Météo-France stated.

In Nice there have been 60 consecutive “tropical nights” (nuits tropicales), meaning the overnight temperature has remained above 20C for two months. This is a record for the city.

Even in Brittany, known for its milder climate, temperatures have been recorded over 40C in places, and regularly in the high 30s.

This extreme heat has been coupled with droughts all around the country, creating major water shortages.

For several weeks there have been water restrictions in almost every department in France.

Currently, 93 of the 96 departments in France métropolitaine are under drought alerts of varying degrees of severity, with 78 on crisis alert.

Paris, Seine-Saint-Denis and the Hauts-de-Seine are under vigilance for drought, but no alert has been declared.

Read more: Drought map: See what water restrictions apply in your department

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