đ„ 2025 Breaks Heat Records: France and the World Face an Unprecedented Year of Extreme Temperatures
2025 Breaks Global Heat Records
The year 2025 will go down as one of the hottest ever recorded, both in France and across the world. According to MĂ©tĂ©o-France and Copernicus Climate Service (C3S), it ranks third or fourth hottest year in France since records began in 1900 â and second or third globally, following the record-breaking years of 2023 and 2024.
With an average temperature of 14.0°C, France experienced an anomaly of +1.0°C compared to the 1991â2020 baseline. In practical terms, this means one out of every two days in 2025 had above-average temperatures, while only one in five was cooler than usual.
During the year, over 700 local heat records were set, compared with just 60 cold records â a stark sign of how fast the climate is changing.
Extreme Heat Across Every Continent
2025 didnât just break records in France â it shattered them worldwide. More than 120 monthly heat records were broken across 70 countries, according to preliminary climate data from Copernicus.
Central Asia was hit hardest, with the Tajikistan experiencing temperatures nearly 3°C above normal, and neighboring Iran, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan not far behind.
In Africa, the Sahel and West Africa endured unrelenting heat, with anomalies between +0.7°C and +1.5°C. The Nigeria Meteorological Agency confirmed that 2025 was the hottest year in Nigeriaâs history.
According to the World Weather Attribution Network, extreme heat episodes like those of 2025 are now ten times more likely to occur compared to pre-2015 levels.
This rise is largely attributed to the combined effects of El Niño, which boosts global ocean temperatures, and ongoing human-driven climate change caused by greenhouse gas emissions.
A Record-Breaking Summer in Europe
Europe endured an extraordinary summer, with June 2025 standing out as the hottest June ever recorded across Western Europe.
In France, June saw an average of 26.8°C in Rennes â a staggering 4°C above normal â resulting in conditions more typical of southern France or Bordeaux than Brittany.
The summer overall ranked as Franceâs third hottest on record, with national temperatures sitting 1.9°C above the seasonal average.
đ„ August Heatwaves Smash Local Records
August 2025 brought blistering highs across southwestern France:
AngoulĂȘme: 42.3°C
Bergerac: 42.1°C
Bordeaux: 41.6°C
Across Europe:
The Balkans and Switzerland came close to surpassing their all-time records.
Northern Europe experienced an unusually warm autumn, marking 2025 as one of the two hottest years ever in Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Iceland.
The Bigger Picture: What These Records Mean
Scientists warn that 2025âs extremes arenât isolated â theyâre part of a long-term global trend. According to Copernicus data, the last ten years have been the hottest decade in recorded history. The steady rise is pushing ecosystems, agriculture, and energy systems to their limits.
Key Takeaways:
Franceâs climate is shifting towards warmer averages year-round.
Heatwaves are becoming more frequent, intense, and longer-lasting.
Global climate policies will need urgent reinforcement to meet Paris Agreement goals and limit warming to 1.5°C.
The 2025 record serves as another urgent warning that climate change is accelerating faster than predicted. Scientists emphasize that immediate and sustained action is the only way to slow this trend â from reducing fossil fuel use to investing in clean energy and sustainable urban planning.
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