France 2026 summer heatwave mortality analysis
The developments in this story so far, most recent first.
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Development
Ten departments in eastern France remain under orange heatwave alert
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· date approximate Development
Excess deaths caused by heatwaves in England ‘almost double’ so far this year
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Development
Belgium extends heat wave alert as temperatures expected to reach 35C
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· date approximate Milestone
23 yıllık rekor kırıldı: Fransa'da sıcaklık alarmı
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· date approximate Follow-up
France Records 5,764 Excess Deaths During Heat Wave
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· date approximate Background
Belgium recorded a 48% excess mortality rate during a heat wave at the end of June.
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· date approximate Background
The number of heat-associated deaths recorded during the summer.
During the summer of 2026, France recorded 5,764 excess deaths between June 17 and July 2, a period that coincided with extreme heatwaves in several regions. The figure represents the highest heatwave-related excess mortality since the deadly summer of 2003.
France's public health agency stated that the excess mortality cannot yet be conclusively linked to extreme heat. However, the excess mortality rate during that period was 23%, according to regional data.
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· date approximate Background
Soil moisture levels were comparable to the 2022 drought.
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· date approximate Background
The UKHSA reported an annual record of 2,985 heat-associated deaths.
In 2022, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) reported an annual record of 2,985 heat-associated deaths, the highest such figure on record.
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· date approximate Background
The average temperature in France was 24.4 degrees Celsius.
En juillet 2006, la température moyenne en France s'élevait à 24,4 degrés Celsius.
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· date approximate Background
France experienced a 21-day heat wave.
En 2006, la France a connu une vague de chaleur d'une durée de 21 jours.
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· date approximate Background
The previous record for the highest monthly average temperature in France was recorded in August 2003.
Avant les relevés de 2026, le record de la température mensuelle moyenne la plus élevée en France était de 24,8 degrés Celsius. Ce niveau avait été enregistré au cours du mois d'août 2003.