Record heat waves in the summer of 2026 swept through France with temperatures in many places exceeding 40 degrees Celsius, breaking records for daytime and nighttime temperatures.
The French Public Health Agency announced a preliminary estimate of 7,919 deaths exceeding the limit (the number of deaths exceeding the expected level in normal conditions) recorded from the end of May to August 20. Specifically, 95 deaths exceeding the limit were recorded during the heat wave from May 24-28; 5,764 cases in the period July 17-2. 7; 1,243 cases from July 3-20 and 817 cases from July 27-20. 8.
According to this agency, this is still preliminary data and may increase when data from the last weeks of summer is updated.
Nearly consecutive heat waves have made summer 2026 a particularly harsh period in France. According to the country's meteorological agency, this is the hottest summer since 1900, surpassing the temperatures of 2003 and 2022. The heat wave of 2003 killed about 15,000 people.
Climate change - mainly caused by human activity through burning coal, oil and gas - is increasing the risk and intensity of heat waves.
In France this year, the elderly are particularly severely affected, with a large number of deaths exceeding the recorded level in the period from August 14-16, right after the peak heat days.
According to functional agencies, the heat wave that caused the most deaths was the first peak from June 17 - July 2; this is the time before the summer vacation begins when educational, business and work activities in France are still taking place.
The French Public Health Service said that data collection will be completed by the end of October and is expected to release final figures on increased deaths in the summer early next year.
