The first half of February was “remarkably mild”, Météo France noted on Wednesday.
This week alone the thermometer has exceeded 20°C several times and even reached 27°C on Thursday.
“It’s a situation for the month of May, or even the month of June,” notes meteorologist Patrick Marlière, director of Média Weather, to Le Parisien.
“This first half of February 2024 is in pole position for the mildest first half of February ever recorded since records began,” writes La Chaîne Météo.
The average temperature measured in France from February 1 to 15 is 9.69°C, according to the infoclimat website.
It ranks first among the hottest first half of February, ahead of 2002 (9.5°C) and 2020 (9.43°C).
This first half of February is the hottest recorded in France according to the national thermal indicator, which beats the first half of February 2002.
Note that February 15 is the hottest day of winter 2024 on a national scale .
pic.twitter.com/FmHUuR8jev
— Keraunos (@KeraunosObs) February 15, 2024
“With 18°C in places”
Thursday was even the warmest day since the start of winter, according to several forecast sites, with peaks of 26 or even 27°C in the South-West.
A local situation due to the Foehn effect, a phenomenon responsible for the sharp rise in temperatures, underlines Patrick Marlière.
He recalls in passing that temperatures were also high in the North for the season, “with 18°C in places”.
The mildness should continue this weekend.
“Temperatures will stabilize and generally remain 2 to 5 degrees above normal”, with up to 18°C in Perpignan, or even 19°C in Montpellier, Météo France announces.
This should last this weekend, and “until Tuesday or even Wednesday”, notes Patrick Marlière, who warns of a return of winter afterwards: the “last ten days of February should be much cooler, even cold”.