France recorded its hottest July since records began, with soil drought levels reaching the highest for the same period in history.

On August 4 local time, the French meteorological agency released data showing that in July 2026, the average temperature in France reached 24.9 degrees Celsius, the hottest July since meteorological records began in 1900, and also the hottest month on record for France. The national average temperature in July was 3.8 degrees Celsius higher than the historical average for the same period, with the highest temperature exceeding the historical average by 5.2 degrees Celsius. The French meteorological agency also indicated that due to persistent high temperatures and below-average rainfall, the rainfall in July decreased by nearly 70% compared to the historical average, making it the third driest July on record. As a result, by the end of July, the national average soil drought level reached the highest level for this time of year historically, comparable to the extreme drought period in mid-August 2022. The meteorological agency stated that the prolonged high temperatures and drought have had a significant impact on agriculture and increased the risk of forest fires.