Heat waves in France: more frequent, intense and long

This is the 33rd heat wave listed on a national scale by Météo France since 2000 and the 50th since 1947. Meanwhile, This episode caused by a “heat dome” should last at least until Tuesday.

Reminder of the most intense. Meanwhile, murderous heat waves, the most stifling, the longest, early and late:

2003: the deadliest heat wave – Heat waves france: more frequent,

For Météo France, a heat wave is an episode of high temperatures day and night over an extended period of at least 3 days.

That of August 2003 remains to date the most severe registered in France. For example, The deadliest too, with 15,000 estimated deaths.

This unprecedented heat has highlighted dysfunctions in health services. the isolation of the elderly, the main victims of the heat wave. This led to the creation of a “heat wave plan”, now in place heat waves france: more frequent, every year from June 1 to September 15.

2019: summer of absolute records – Heat waves france: more frequent,

Summer 2019 experienced two heat waves. phenomena corresponding to abnormally high temperatures over several days, marked by records.

An absolute heat record for France is established on June 28: 46 ° C registered in Vérargues in Hérault. This temperature remains the highest ever reached in France.

During the second wave, at the end of July, 42.6 ° C were reached in Paris, dropping an old heat record in the capital.

July 25, 2019 was the hottest day recorded at the national level, with an average temperature of 29.4 ° C (equally with that of August 5, 2003). This heat wave was shorter than that of August 2003, but of “equivalent intensity”, according to Météo France.

1983: longest wave

The longest heat wave occurred in July 1983, with a period of 23 heat waves france: more frequent, days.

On the other hand for its intensity. the heat wave of 1983 is, as is the memorable summer 1976, far from the most stifling episodes of 2003, 2019 and 2022.

2022: the earliest

The earliest heat wave took place in 2022. starting from June 15, with a 43 ° C peak on June 18 in Arcachon (Gironde).

That year. France crossed three heat waves which ended in significant excess mortality, evaluated at 2,816 “excess death”, according to Public Health France.

It was also in 2022 that France recorded its highest annual average temperature with 14.5 ° C.

2023: the latest

Conversely. the latest heat wave was recorded from August 17 to 24, 2023, with a period of 8 days and an unprecedented intensity for a month of August since the start of the statements in 1947, in particular in Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur and Occitanie.

heat waves france: more frequent,

That same year, several regions were experiencing an even later scorching episode, from September 3 to 10.