Overview
- Météo‑France said the heatwave is peaking in Paris with highs near 35°C on May 29 and a forecasted run of May days above 30°C through May 30, a sequence never seen in the capital.
- France recorded its hottest May day on May 26 with a national average of 24.9°C and numerous weather stations set new all‑time May records this week, with daytime highs reaching about 37.8°C in parts of the southwest.
- French authorities have linked seven deaths to the heat, including five drownings during attempts to cool off and two fatalities at athletic events, and medical teams reported strain at large events such as the French Open.
- Night‑time minima have been unusually high across western France, with a provisional 26.2°C recorded at Cap Béar, reducing overnight cooling and raising the risk of heat stress for people without air conditioning.
- Short‑range forecasts point to an Atlantic system bringing cooler air by around May 31, but scientists and agencies say the event’s timing, intensity, and warm nights fit patterns made more likely by long‑term human‑driven warming.