The intense heatwave that gripped France throughout the latter half of June has officially concluded, with national weather service Météo-France confirming its duration at 14 days. The episode, which began on June 17 and ended on June 30, stands as the second longest heatwave recorded in the country, trailing only the catastrophic event of August 200 by a mere two days.
A Marathon of Heat, Not a Sprint
While the 2025 heatwave was more intense at its peak than the 2003 reference event, it did not surpass its longevity. The official end was determined by a strict meteorological criterion. “Climatologists consider the heatwave over when the national thermal indicator drops below 23.4°C, provided this is confirmed for three consecutive days, or if the drop is sharper over a single day, falling below 22.4°C,” Météo-France stated. Tuesday, June 30, was the last day the indicator exceeded the 23.4°C threshold.
This event is the 52nd heatwave recorded in France since 1947. The agency issued a stark reminder, stating, “The multiplication of such episodes before even the start of calendar summer is one of the consequences of climate change.”
Records Shattered, but Absolute Peak Stands
The stifling nights offered no respite, with the night from Wednesday to Thursday registering as the hottest on record, with a national average minimum temperature of 22.0°C. While the 40°C mark was locally breached numerous times across many departments, the absolute national temperature record remained intact. The peak of 46°C, set on June 28, 2019, in Vérargues (Hérault), was unchallenged. The highest temperature recorded during this episode was 43.8°C in Saintes on June 24.
