France’s June Heatwave Breaks 1947 Record as Temperatures Surge

Paris – June 2026 has etched its name in French climate history as the hottest June since the meteorological network began recording in 1947. According to Météo‑France, the national mean temperature climbed to 22.7 °C, a full 3.8 °C above the long‑term 1991‑2020 average. The heatwave, sparked on 17 June, intensified through the end of the month, with 24 June and 25 June registering the highest daily averages ever, each reaching the 30 °C mark for a full 24‑hour period. The agency placed a red heat‑wave alert on 72 departments – the most extensive alert level ever triggered. Public health surveillance shows that between 22 June and 28 June, the country experienced 2,025 more deaths than the previous week, a 29.1 % increase. Electronic death certificates, which currently document about 60 % of all deaths, suggest the real death toll could be higher. The spike was strongest among people aged 45 and older, with a 29.7 % rise in fatalities. Deaths at home surged by 91 %, while nursing homes and medical facilities saw increases of 37 % and 19.7 % respectively.