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France’s Early‑April Heat Sets April Records in the West as Weekend Cooldown Nears

Forecasters say a split high‑pressure system will flip the pattern to cooler ocean air this weekend.

Overview

  • MétéoFrance said the warm spell peaked Wednesday with readings up to 14°C above normal in what felt like midsummer for many regions.
  • Absolute April records fell in western France, with 29.6°C at Cossé‑le‑Vivien and near‑30°C values at Vannes and Auray, according to a Thursday assessment.
  • The episode began April 4 and lasted about six days, with national averages running 4 to 6°C above seasonal norms throughout the stretch.
  • Forecasts point to a sharp turn as the high splits and cooler Atlantic air moves in, bringing rain, gusty northwest winds and highs closer to 7–12°C by Sunday outside the far southeast.
  • Meteorologists link the rising odds of such early heat to human‑driven warming, noting that 30°C readings—normally seen in June—have occurred as early as late March in 2001, 2023 and 2024.