Record Heat Hits Southwest France as Early June Temperatures Climb

Southwest France sees record temperatures as June begins, sparking concerns over heat trends.

Key Points

  • • Temperatures expected to reach 35-38°C in Southwest France on June 11, 2025.
  • • Castelnaudary set a new record of 35.4°C on June 10, 2025.
  • • Current weather is among the top 0.5% for this time of year but does not qualify as a heatwave.
  • • Comparison made with the more severe heatwave of June 2022.

Southwest France is currently experiencing unseasonably high temperatures, with forecasts predicting highs of 35°C to 38°C on June 11, 2025. This exceptional heat is the result of an air mass classified in the top 0.5% of historical records for early June. Castelnaudary reported a record temperature of 35.4°C on June 10, surpassing the previous record of 32.8°C set in 2017 and marking the earliest occurrence of such heat for the area. Though remarkable, these temperatures do not qualify as a heatwave, as conditions are expected to cool significantly soon after.

Comparatively, the region's recent heat is not as severe as the 2022 heatwave, which saw temperatures soar to 42.9°C in Biarritz and 43.4°C in Pissos, highlighting a possibly growing trend of increasing temperature extremes across France. With current predictions suggesting a drop in temperatures by 5 to 6 degrees in the following days, the situation, while noteworthy, appears to be a short-lived episode rather than indicative of longer-term climate shifts. Experts will continue to monitor the climate trends as such record temperatures become more common in various parts of France.