France is experiencing an unprecedented heatwave, with national temperature averages on Wednesday reaching a record 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit) both day and night. This new peak, reported by Météo-France, surpasses the previous record set in July 2019, which was 29.4 degrees C (84.9 degrees F).
The national average temperature is derived from data collected at 30 stations throughout the country. For instance, Paris recorded a temperature of 40.3 degrees C (104.5 degrees F), Bordeaux saw 41.8 degrees C (107.2 F), and Cazaux in southern France experienced a sweltering 43.6 degrees C (110.5 F) on Wednesday. Earlier in the week, around 20 percent of France endured temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit), as noted by the weather agency.
The severe heat has already led to numerous fatalities in France over the past week. Prime Minister SĂ©bastien Lecornu revealed on Tuesday that 40 swimmers have drowned, and Reuters reported on Monday that three elderly individuals and two children who overheated in a car have also perished.
On supporting science journalism
If you’re enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.
The extreme temperatures are being caused by a “heat dome,” a mass of heat-trapping, high-pressure air, hovering over Western Europe. A similar weather pattern was observed in May, which also marked a historically warm period.
While it’s challenging to attribute a single weather event directly to climate change, research indicates that rising global temperatures have increased the frequency and intensity of heatwaves. France has experienced 52 heatwaves since 1947, with approximately 60 percent occurring since 2000, according to Météo-France. Last month’s heatwave saw climate change raise temperatures in Western Europe by about 2.5 degrees C (4.5 degrees F) above normal, helping to intensify the heat dome, researchers determined.
Other regions in Western Europe also reported extreme heat on Wednesday. In the UK, some areas experienced temperatures as high as 36.0 degrees C (96.8 degrees F), while parts of Spain exceeded 38 degrees C (100 degrees F). On Monday, the UK’s Met Office issued a “red” extreme heat warning, marking only the second time in the last five years the agency has taken this step.
This is a breaking news story and may be updated.
It’s Time to Stand Up for Science
If you enjoyed this article, I’d like to ask for your support. Scientific American has served as an advocate for science and industry for 180 years, and right now may be the most critical moment in that two-century history.
I’ve been a Scientific American subscriber since I was 12 years old, and it helped shape the way I look at the world. SciAm always educates and delights me, and inspires a sense of awe for our vast, beautiful universe. I hope it does that for you, too.
If you subscribe to Scientific American, you help ensure that our coverage is centered on meaningful research and discovery; that we have the resources to report on the decisions that threaten labs across the U.S.; and that we support both budding and working scientists at a time when the value of science itself too often goes unrecognized.
In return, you get essential news, captivating podcasts, brilliant infographics, can’t-miss newsletters, must-watch videos, challenging games, and the science world’s best writing and reporting. You can even gift someone a subscription.
There has never been a more important time for us to stand up and show why science matters. I hope you’ll support us in that mission.
