Everyone remembers the summer of 2003. Its heat, its drought, its fatalities. In 2006, the department set an absolute record. On August 1st, the thermometer showed 37.7°C in Nice! But the heatwave is coming to an end. Météo France predicts a break in the coming days.
“We are still in a hot period, but next week should free us from the label of a heatwave,” reassures Claude Léglantier live from Météo France.
Never since 1942 (the founding of Météo France) has the thermometer reached such highs – 3 to 4 degrees more for the month of July compared to previous years.
Nice was very hot on the first of August, with an average maximum of 37.7°C. This record has never been beaten before. “This is the first heatwave of this magnitude,” asserts Météo France “Even in 2003, this threshold was not reached.”
The heatwave linked to climate change is a concept that has consensus in the scientific world. However, one should be cautious with hasty analyses. “We had a mediocre spring,” reminds Claude Léglantier “It represents a general trend towards warming. This does not mean that it will be a constant in the coming years.” Therefore, no rush; we still need to wait a few more years to give a verdict.
The most optimistic are inclined towards an episodic trend. Periods of intense heat have already shaken France in the past, in 1873, 1922, and 1976. But this year’s heatwave far surpasses those in terms of intensity and duration.
Deeply enclosed, the Nice hinterland is most affected, with average temperatures 2 to 3 degrees higher compared to the coast. Although more populated, the coastal area acts as an insulator against both cold and heat.
In August, the people of Nice can breathe a sigh of relief, as Météo France promises a milder month. Even though the department will remain in a hot period, temperatures will return to normal, with “an average of 28°C for the whole of Alpes-Maritimes,” insists Météo France.
Another article from Nice-Première on Météo France: [https://www.nicepremium.fr/article.php3?id_article=832&var_mode=calcul](https://www.nicepremium.fr/article.php3?id_article=832&var_mode=calcul)
