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France’s hottest summer since 1900 brings 100,000-hectare wildfires

9/3/2026

16 2 Full Breakdown

Summary

France Heatwave

France recorded its hottest summer since 1900 with an average of 24 °C, 3.6 °C above normal.
The season experienced 53 heat-wave days across three episodes, exceeding 2022’s 33 days.
Rainfall fell nearly 40 % below average, making it the second-driest summer on record.
Wildfires burned more than 100,000 hectares, the largest area ever recorded in France.
A historic fire near Bordeaux forced a quarter-million people to evacuate.

Summary

Barbut Announces Funding

Environment Minister Monique Barbut announced a five-year funding plan for climate-adaptation measures.
Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu tasked Barbut in late July to accelerate the national adaptation plan.
Barbut pledged to deliver the plan’s conclusions by the end of September.
French authorities recorded thousands of excess deaths from the 2026 heatwave that set a late-June intensity record.

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France Heatwave

France recorded its hottest summer since 1900 with an average of 24 °C, 3.6 °C above normal.
The season experienced 53 heat-wave days across three episodes, exceeding 2022’s 33 days.
Rainfall fell nearly 40 % below average, making it the second-driest summer on record.
Wildfires burned more than 100,000 hectares, the largest area ever recorded in France.
A historic fire near Bordeaux forced a quarter-million people to evacuate.

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