France records hottest spring since records began
France has experienced its warmest spring on record, with exceptionally high temperatures and increasingly dry conditions raising concerns ahead of summer.
France has experienced its warmest spring since records began in 1900, according to the country's national weather service.
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Météo-France said average temperatures between March and May reached 13.8C, surpassing previous spring records set in 2011 and 2020.
The record-breaking season culminated in an exceptionally early heatwave at the end of May, with large parts of north-western France affected by unusually high temperatures.
France, along with the UK and Portugal, recorded their hottest May days on record as a mass of hot air from North Africa pushed temperatures well above seasonal norms across western Europe.
Forecasters also warned that ground conditions changed dramatically during the spring.
Soils that were saturated after a wet start to the season became extremely dry by the end of May due to the combination of prolonged warmth and a lack of rainfall.
Météo-France said the rapid drying of soils was widespread across the country, raising concerns over drought conditions heading into the summer months.