Summer is no longer knocking on the door: it is breaking it down.
France is experiencing a heatwave at the end of May that even surprises experienced meteorologists. While many people are still thinking about spring jackets, changing days, and cool mornings, temperatures in the west of the country are already reaching levels typical of midsummer. The regions especially affected are those along the Atlantic coast and in the west of the country. Since Tuesday, there has been an exceptional atmospheric situation with temperatures far above the usual values for May.
In cities like Nantes, Bordeaux, or Lyon, the thermometer rises to 34 to 35 degrees. Even in normally mild regions, the weather map suddenly shows intense orange to red. Numerous departments are under extreme heat warnings. And for the moment, there is no end in sight for this weather situation.
What is particularly remarkable is the timing.
At the end of May, temperatures exceeding 30 degrees are usually considered an exception in France. However, this time experts are talking about a historic event. The air masses come from North Africa and are pushed toward Western Europe by a stable high-pressure system. Meteorologists call this situation a “heat dome.” It works like a lid over the atmosphere: warm air accumulates, there is no rain, and temperatures continue to rise day after day.
More than 350 weather stations have already recorded new temperature records for the month of May. This demonstrates the unusual nature of the situation. Many elderly people remember hot summers like those of 2003 or 2019, but a heat wave this early feels almost surreal even in France. “This is strong,” is often heard these days in street cafés or train stations.
The health risks are now coming to the forefront.
People are familiar with the heat of midsummer: the body adapts. But at the end of May, this adaptation is usually absent. Houses retain more heat, schools and offices rarely have air conditioning, and many underestimate the burden. Especially elderly people, children, construction workers, or athletes quickly reach their limits.
Therefore, authorities are calling to avoid physical exertion, to drink enough water, and to regularly contact people at risk. Especially in cities, heat accumulates between the concrete, asphalt, and densely built streets like in an oven.
But behind the current weather situation there is more than just an exceptional spring.
Climate scientists have observed for years that heat waves appear earlier, last longer, and are more intense. What used to be an extreme event is increasingly becoming the new reality. Classic summer heat is advancing on the calendar, step by step, year after year.
Thus, France already gets a preview in May of a summer that will generate many discussions. About air conditioning, urban planning, water supply, and the question of whether Europe is even prepared for these new temperatures.
Because something becomes very clear this week: the old idea of a mild spring is faltering.
By C. Hatty