2011 hottest year in France since 1900

This year was the hottest in France since the start of the 20th century, according to Meteo France, with average national temperatures 1.5° C warmer than the norm. The average national temperature was 13.6° C, said Meteo France’s Francois Gourand, 2° C warmer than the previous hottest year, 2003.

Spring was particularly warm, with temperatures an average 4° C warmer than usual in April. Autumn was also exceptionally mild, with November the second hottest since 1900, 3° C warmer than the average of temperatures from 1971 to 2000.

Every month was above this benchmark except for July, when temperatures were 1.3° C cooler than average. The warm temperatures this year were accompanied by 20 per cent less rainfall than usual, except in the southeast of France where heavy rain in November saw the average attained.