Heatwave in May: France Suffocates Under Heat Records

France experienced an exceptional heatwave on Thursday, with temperatures soaring up to 37.8°C, setting records for the month of May. This intense heat period, which began in the northwest of the country, shows signs of regression in these regions. However, vigilance remains necessary as eleven departments are still under orange alert on Friday, indicating that the episode is not yet completely over and that certain areas remain particularly exposed to high temperatures. This meteorological phenomenon raises questions about the impacts of climate change and the ability of predictive models to anticipate such extreme events.

A Thermometer Spinning Out of Control for May

Weather records confirm that Thursday was marked by extreme heat for the month of May, with temperatures typically associated with summer being recorded across much of the country, far exceeding seasonal averages. While the summer-like warmth is often welcome, these extreme temperatures raise concerns about their increasing frequency and intensity. The persistence of these intense heatwaves, even after a slight retreat in some areas, highlights the power of the heatwave that has engulfed the country. Satellite data and ground observations confirm the scale of this event, surpassing the most pessimistic forecasts for this time of year. Meteorological models, such as those used by the ECMWF, attempted to predict the evolution of this heatwave, but the magnitude of the phenomenon surprised even the most pessimistic forecasts with its intensity.