The months of March, April, and May have seen unprecedented levels of sunshine and minimal rainfall in the northern half of France. This phenomenon, indicative of climate change , reveals that among the ten hottest springs ever recorded in France, nine have occurred since 2000.
The spring of 2025 ranks as the third hottest ever recorded in France since temperature records began. On a national scale, the season averaged 1.1°C higher than seasonal normals, as announced on June 4 by Météo-France . Each of the months—March, April, and May—was hotter than average, with increases of +0.7°C , +1.7°C , and +0.8°C , respectively.
Moreover, this spring set records for three departments: Finistère , Côtes d’Armor , and Manche . The season marked a striking contrast between the northern regions of France, which basked in sunshine and experienced minimal rainfall, and the south, where the weather has been more dreary and unstable.
A Hot Spring
The mild climate has predominantly marked the northern half of France, with peak temperatures exceeding seasonal norms by more than 2°C in regions north of the Loire. Notably, the average maximum temperature in Strasbourg matched that of Nice at 18.5°C . For Nice, this represents a seasonal average, while in Strasbourg, it reflects an increase of nearly 2°C above normal.
The threshold of 30°C was breached for the first time this year on May 2, with Strasbourg recording this temperature. Maximum temperatures were +1.5°C to locally +3°C above normal in regions such as Pays de la Loire and Brittany in the Grand Est and Franche-Comté . Although southern regions have temperatures closer to seasonal values, overall, the spring of 2025 has been exceptionally warm across France.
This season is a clear indicator of climate change. Among the ten hottest recorded springs, nine took place after 2000. “This spring has shown the effects of global warming, with intensifying heatwaves occurring earlier in the year,” explains Matthieu Sorel , a climatologist at Météo-France.
Twice as Much Sunshine in Cherbourg Compared to Biarritz
This warmth, particularly in the north, was bolstered by an unusually generous amount of sunshine . Consequently, the spring was characterized by a significant North/South contrast in sunshine levels.
On average, sunshine levels were 10% higher, with some northern regions experiencing between 20% and 40% more sunshine than seasonal averages. In contrast, southern regions’ sunshine levels remained close to the average or even slightly below, particularly near the Mediterranean coast.
Data indicate that cities such as Reims and Cherbourg experienced more than 35 exceptionally sunny days this season, double that of cities in the southwest like Biarritz , Pau , or Dax . “A contrast of sunlight anomalies across the country is not uncommon during this season. For instance, in 2022 and 2020, the northeast region of the country saw exceptionally sunny springs,” noted Météo-France.
Very Dry Soils in the Northern Half
As a result of this weather, the northern half of France has also faced particularly dry conditions . The disparity is attributed to the persistent high-pressure systems over Northern Europe, which shielded these regions from disturbances and precipitation. Conversely, the southern part of the continent has experienced more depressing conditions , with cold snaps regularly bringing rain.
The deficiency in rainfall reached 40% in regions north of the Loire, sometimes even between 50% and 70% from Mayenne to Hauts-de-France and Champagne . “In these same regions, precipitation occurred on only 10 to 15 days , which is 15 days fewer than average ,” detailed Météo-France.
The driest city during March, April, and May was Dunkerque , with only 31.9 mm of rain, representing a -75% deviation from normal (as compared to 200mm of rain in 2024). This data is striking, especially when contrasted with other regions of the country where rainfall was abundant. For example, the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region recorded +45% excess precipitation this spring.
The overall deficit in the north has led to an average of 20% less rain nationwide this spring. As a result, soil conditions in the northern regions are so dry they resemble late July levels, comments Matthieu Sorel. Looking ahead, regarding the upcoming summer , Météo-France anticipates a 50% chance of warmer-than-normal conditions.
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