France breaks all-time high temperature record

Severe heatwave affecting much of Europe this weak brought record-breaking temperatures, including all-time high for France. 

Meteo France raised the hazardous weather warning to 'red, the highest level, for the Marseille and Montpellier areas in southeastern France. This is the first time the agency activated red alert since the system was introduced in 2003 (after 15 000 heat-related deaths).

The country crossed the 45 °C (113 °F) mark for the first time ever today. Carpentras recorded 44.3 °C (111.7 °F) at 13:48 LT, breaking the previous absolute temperature record of 44.1 °C (111.3 °F) set in Conqueyrac in the Gard on August 12, 2003. However, temperatures continued rising and reached 45.9 °C (114.6 °F) in Gallargues-le-Montueux.

The previous absolute temperature record was beaten this afternoon in several stations:

• 45.9 °C (114.6 °F) in Gallargues-le-Montueux
• 45.4 °C (113.7 °F) in Villevieille 
• 45.1 °C (113.1 °F) in Marsillargues 
• 44.6 °C (112.2 °F) in Saint-Chamas
• 44.5 °C (112.1 °F) at Varages
• 44.4 °C (111.9 °F) at Nîmes-Courbessac , beating by far its old historic absolute record (41.6 ° C on August 4, 2017 and August 9, 1923). 
• 44.4 °C (111.9 °F) in Peyrolles-en-Provence
• 44.3 °C (111.7 °F) at Moules-et-Baucels
• 44.3 °C (111.7 °F) in Vinon-sur-Verdon
• 44.3 °C (111.7 °F) in Carpentras
• 44.3 °C (111.7 °F) in Istres
• 44.3 °C (111.7 °F) at Moules-et-Baucels 

At the country level, Thursday, June 28 is, for the moment, the hottest ever measured in June. With 27.9 °C (82.2 °F), the thermal indicator of average temperatures reached yesterday a record value for June, 8.6 °C (15.4 °F) above the normal for the whole country. 

The previous June record was 26.4 °C (79.5 °F) set on June 21, 2017.

It was only during the heat wave of August 2003 that France experienced daily average national temperatures higher than June 27, 2019 (and this, at least since 1947). The hottest day ever recorded in nationally averaged temperature was 29.4 °C (84.9 °F) on August 5, 2003.

"A heat wave of this amplitude so early in the year, in June, is exceptional," Meteo France meteorologist France Christelle Robert said. "We should expect more intense and frequent heat waves with climate change, because it will accentuate the extremes."

Valid for June 28, 2019

​Valid for June 29, 2019

Featured image credit: GFS/TropicalTidbits