France recorded its hottest May day since records began on May 26, 2026, while temperatures climbed to 37.8 °C in southwestern parts of the country on May 28. Multiple stations across France set new all-time May temperature records this week as a prolonged heat dome pushed daytime temperatures into the upper 30s°C (upper 90s°F) and kept nighttime temperatures unusually high across much of the country.
Seven deaths were linked to exceptionally high temperatures in France after the country recorded its hottest May day since national observations began, with a national average temperature of 24.4°C (75.9°F) on May 25, 2026.
Thick Saharan dust from North Africa covered parts of Portugal, Spain, France, Italy, and neighboring countries on March 4, 2026, producing hazy skies, orange deposits, and moderate-to-poor air quality. Forecasts show the plume spreading toward central Europe before dispersing after March 6.
Temperatures in France reached levels typical of May on February 25–26, 2026, breaking multiple February records, according to Météo-France. The highest readings occurred in the southwest, where Pomps (Pyrénées-Atlantiques) reached 28.4°C (83.1°F) and Orthez (Pyrénées-Atlantiques) 28.3°C (82.9°F), about 14°C (25°F) above normal. Several other stations also registered new monthly records.
France’s national flood monitoring service reports that soil moisture in the country has reached its highest level since records began in 1959. The prolonged rainfall of the past two months, intensified by Storm Nils, left soils fully saturated and reduced infiltration capacity, sustaining elevated flood risk nationwide. Evacuations, infrastructure closures, and power outages were reported in several regions.
Storm Nils brought heavy rainfall, destructive winds, and significant flooding to parts of France and Spain between February 10 and 16, 2026, leaving three people dead and cutting power to nearly 1 million households.
At least one person was reported dead as Storm Nils brought damaging winds to France late on February 11, 2026, with gusts exceeding 180 km/h (112 mph) recorded in parts of the country. More than 900 000 customers were left without power as authorities issued red and orange alerts across multiple departments, while Savoie was placed under a rare red avalanche alert on February 12 after multiple avalanches were reported.
Snow avalanches struck northern Italy and south-eastern France between February 7–8, 2026, killing at least 11 people across multiple Alpine locations. Italian authorities reported several fatalities in Trentino–Alto Adige and Lombardy, while French media confirmed deaths in the Hautes-Alpes. The incidents occurred during a period of elevated avalanche danger following recent snowfall and wind loading.
At least six people have been killed in separate avalanche incidents across the French Alps, with the latest fatalities being reported on January 11, 2026.
Storm Goretti struck the United Kingdom on January 9, 2026, causing at least 2 fatalities in England and Wales. Winds reached 160 km/h (100 mph) as the storm brought heavy snow and significant coastal flooding, leaving nearly half a million customers without power — approximately 1.2 million people. The Met Office issued rare red wind warnings for southwest England as power cuts, flight cancellations, and travel disruption spread across the country.
