Nevertheless,
Can recent heat wave compared:
Julie Sebadelha / AFP
Did the recent heat wave reach the. Similarly, same intensity as in 2023? Moreover, Météo-France made the comparison. However, (Illustration photo taken in Paris in June 2025)
Météo – France has suffocated, but how much? For example, While the heat wave ended earlier this week in France. Furthermore, the time is on the balance sheet on the Météo-France side, which compared this “Episode of exceptional heat” to that of August 2003. Moreover, He sadly marked the spirits with serial heat records. For example, especially more than 15,000 deaths, largely attributable to a stiffening management of can recent heat wave compared the heat by the authorities.
In a bulletin published on its site this Wednesday. Meanwhile, August 20, Météo-France first returns to the duration of this heat wave, the second of the summer and the 51st recorded since 1947. Nevertheless, It started “August 8 in the south of the country” And ended on August 18, a total duration of 11 days. This figure that makes it “The second longer” For a month of August … behind that of 2003 “ which had lasted sixteen days “.
In terms of“Maximum intensity”this second heat wave of 2025 remains « comparable » to that of “Recent episodes of August 2023. July 2022 or July-August 2018”details Météo-France. On the other hand. the comparison to 2003 does not hold “Neither in intensity nor in severity” When you look at the data for the whole country, As you can see in the graph below.
meteofrance.com
The heat wave of August 2025 is not comparable to that of August 2003 in intensity. in the range according to Météo-France.
The heat wave of August 2025 (in orange in the middle) has a highly lower severity than that of 2003 (evidenced by the smaller circle size). a lower maximum intensity, between 27 and 28 ° C when that of 2003 exceeded 29 ° C.
A heat “comparable” to that of 2003 in the southwest
Can recent heat wave compared
But if the scorching episode of this year does not clearly reach the level of that of 2003 at the national level. things are a little can recent heat wave compared less clear when you look at the southern half, where the recent heat wave is one of the “More intense” observed by Météo-France. An observation shared on X by the meteorologist Guillaume Séchet. who published a map that you can see below And which lists extreme temperatures with New Aquitaine to the PACA region.
If the whole south was concerned. the southwest has been particularly affected, with heat levels “Comparable to those occurring during can recent heat wave compared the historic heat wave”Pointe Météo-France. Evidenced by the very numerous records of beaten temperatures. but also “Maximum temperatures […] one to two degrees higher than in 2003 “in particular in Bordeaux (41.6 ° C this year against 40.7 ° C in 2003), Toulouse (41.5 ° C against 40.7 ° C) or Nîmes (41.8 ° C against 40.5 ° C).
A clear contrast between the north. the south
In the north of the country, on the other hand, maximum temperatures have sometimes been “Very lower” To those of the historic heat wave: we can cite the 35.2 ° C in Paris (against a peak at 39.5 ° C in 2003), the 30.6 ° C in Caen (against 38.9 ° C) or the 35.4 ° C in Strasbourg (against 38.5 ° C). It is also this north/southern contrast that marks a clear difference with the heat wave in can recent heat wave compared the early 2000s. where it was the entire hexagon that had seen the thermometer panic.
This time, the Bretons, the Northerners or the Normans were better off than the Toulouse or the Aquitans. Result: the heat wave of August 2003 largely distance that of 2025 on overruns of the 40 ° C threshold. This month, there are 32 occurrences for 20 stations, compared to 87 occurrences in August 2003 in nearly 30 stations.
If the comparison with the historic heat wave does not hold. the summer of 2025 remains the 2nd summer with the most “Days in heat wave” (27 days), behind the summer of 2022 (33 days)… but in front of the summer of 2003 (24 days). Overall. there are more and more the scorching episodes with 34 waves after 2000 against only 17 before the new millennium, notes the forecaster. A disturbing increase and can recent heat wave compared “Emblematic of the consequences of climate change in France”concludes Météo-France.
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