France Records Hottest Day Ever as Heat Dome Broils Western Europe

French Prime Minister takes emergency measures to prepare for heat-related health crisis.
France Records Hottest Day Ever as Heat Dome Broils Western Europe
Two young women cool off under a water misting device in Lille, northern France, on June 22, 2026. Jean-Francois Badias/AP Photo
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France recorded its hottest day ever on June 23, as an early summer heat wave gripped the country’s residents, forcing early closures of the famed Eiffel Tower and Louvre Museum and sending its national health system into crisis mode.

France’s weather agency Météo-France recorded an average temperature of 29.8 degrees Celsius (85.6 degrees Fahrenheit) throughout the country during the day. This new record surpassed the old record of 29.4 degrees Celsius (84.9 Fahrenheit), reached July 25, 2019.

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Jill McLaughlin
Jill McLaughlin
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Jill McLaughlin is an award-winning journalist covering politics, environment, and statewide issues. She has been a reporter and editor for newspapers in Oregon, Nevada, and New Mexico. Jill was born in Yosemite National Park and enjoys the majestic outdoors, traveling, golfing, and hiking.