France recorded its hottest day ever on June 23rd, 2026 – but all over the country local records have been broken too as the country continues to sizzle under an unprecedentedly early heatwave.
On Tuesday the national thermal indicator – a 24-hour average of temperatures from 30 weather stations across the country – reached 29.8C. Although it doesn’t compare to the highs recorded in individual towns, many of which easily topped 40C, that is the highest average temperature in France since detailed records began in 1949.
The previous national high was 29.4C, set in August 2003 and July 2019.
But few expect that record to last, with the heatwave currently blasting France not expected to peak before Thursday.
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As extreme heat spread from Nouvelle-Aquitaine to Pays de la Loire, Brittany, Normandy, and into the Centre region, all-time temperature records were broken in 135 towns — many of which had only been set the day before — and monthly records in a further 176.
On Monday, 118 absolute temperature records were broken, according to official figures. Saumur, in the Maine-et-Loire, saw the mercury rise to 43C, beating a previous high set in June 2022, while Rennes also broke an all-time heat record with 40.6C.
Meanwhile, the record June high in Paris of 37.6C, which was set back in 1947, was broken as Paris-Montsouris saw temperatures rise to 38.4C. Paris’ highest ever temperature is 42.6C, set in July 2019.
“More record-breaking temperatures are expected, including some that could surpass all previous records, regardless of the time of year,” national forecaster Météo-France said.
On Tuesday, temperatures exceeded 40C in Pays de la Loire, as well as inland Brittany and Normandy – regions not usually exposed to such high temperatures – and spread towards coastal areas.
The day’s highest temperature – 44.6C – was recorded in Bordeaux-Paulin, in the Gironde in south west France, beating the previous record of 43.3C which was set a day earlier.
#Canicule2026 : La France vient de connaître sa journée la plus chaude jamais enregistrée avec un indicateur thermique national de 29,8°C (à 17 h), dépassant les 29,4°C de 2003 et de 2019. Voici quelques #températures extrêmes relevées parmi les 131 nouveaux records absolus 🌡️ pic.twitter.com/mroULlBZGs
— La Chaîne Météo (@lachainemeteo) June 23, 2026
All-time highs were also set in the following towns:
- 44.3C: Pissos (Landes) – previous record 43.4C in June 2022.
- 44.3C: Chantonnay (Vendée) – previous record 43C recorded a day earlier.
- 44.3C: Surin (Deux-Sèvres) – previous record 42.7C recorded a day earlier.
- 44.1C: Beaulieu-sur-Layon (Maine-et-Loire) – previous record 43.3C recorded a day earlier.
- 43.4C: Saumur (Maine-et-Loire) – previous record 43C recorded a day earlier.
- 42.7C: La Roche-sur-Yon / Les Ajoncs (Vendée) – previous record 41.5C in July 2022.
- 42.4C: Angers-Beaucouzé (Maine-et-Loire) – previous record 41C recorded a day earlier.
- 42.1C: Nantes (Moire-Atlantique) – previous record 42C in July 2022.
- 41.4C: Rennes (Ille-et-Vilaine) – previous record 40.6C recorded a day earlier.
- 40.8C: Caen (Calvados) – previous record 40.1C in July 2022.
Meanwhile, Cherbourg, in the northern Manche département, reached 37C, smashing its previous record of 33.7C, set in the July heatwave of 2006.
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More monthly and all-time records are likely to continue to be broken before the heatwave starts to retreat on Thursday, when – relatively – cooler conditions start spreading from the west.
On Wednesday, temperatures are expected to reach 38C to 41C in the afternoon, with local highs of 43C to 44C in the west and centre of the country on Wednesday, with little respite overnight as urban temperatures sometimes drop no lower than 28C.
Overnight, the temperature dropped no lower than 28.8C in Biscarosse (Landes) and La Gaubretière (Vendée) and 28.2C in Surin and 27.7C in Scillé (both in Deux-Sèvres).
La nuit dernière a été encore un peu plus chaude que la précédente. Les températures minimales étaient généralement comprises entre 20 et 25°C sur la majeure partie du pays. Au coeur de la capitale, la température n’est pas descendue sous 28°C (Paris-Lariboisière). La… pic.twitter.com/1dlkTJ7IwL
— La Chaîne Météo (@lachainemeteo) June 24, 2026
The national minimum temperature recorded on overnight Tuesday into Wednesday was 21.52C, the second highest ever, beaten only by the 21.61C minimum of the night before,
By 9am, on Wednesday, June 24th, the temperature had hit 34C in Pouzauges (Vendée).
Authorities have reported 40 deaths by drowning since June 18th, mainly among young people, as they sought relief from the heat in ways that were sometimes dangerous.
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Schools, meanwhile, have closed or cut short classes; while rail services have been disrupted, particularly in the Île-de-France region; and some tourist attractions are reducing their opening hours.
Added to this are tropical nights, accumulated fatigue, the risk of fainting, ozone pollution and the strain on the most vulnerable individuals.
Scientists have repeatedly demonstrated that recurring heatwaves are a clear marker of global warming, primarily caused by burning coal, oil and gas – and warn they are set to become more frequent, longer and more intense.
