France had 53 heatwave days in record-hot summer

France had its hottest summer on record in 2026 and saw 53 days of heatwave conditions, Environment Minister Monique Barbut and the national weather service said Thursday, after months marked by heatwaves, drought and major wildfires. Barbut said the summer was the hottest recorded since measurements began in 1900. For meteorologists, the summer period covers June to August. Meteo-France said the country had 53 days of heatwave conditions, calling the number unprecedented. France endured several severe heatwaves. One in late June set a new intensity record, while another from late July into August lasted 23 days, matching the country’s longest heatwave record, previously set in 1983. Several major wildfires hit France during the period. Barbut said that by the end of August, forest fires had burned six times more area than the average of the past 20 years. French authorities recorded thousands of excess deaths during the heatwaves. In Paris, where few homes have air conditioning, some residents used foil survival blankets over windows to keep out the sun. Schools were closed and demand rose for fans and air-conditioning units. Barbut, who was tasked in late July by Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu with presenting measures to speed up France’s national climate change adaptation plan, said conclusions would come by the end of September, including a five-year funding plan. She said schools would not all be renovated by next summer but that shutters and air circulators could at least be installed. France joins Belgium and Britain in recording their hottest summers after a season of extreme heat in Europe. Scientists say human-made climate change has made extreme weather events more intense and more frequent.