It is also the first time in 2022 that the thermometer has reached 37°C anywhere in mainland France, at least on the main network of Météo-France stations, a spokesperson told AFP.
“Around 2 p.m., the T°C reached peaks in Cape Town
Météo-France then confirmed to AFP that the temperature in Cap Corse had risen to 37.4°C, according to readings available at 4:00 p.m.
All months combined, at Cap Corse, this is the eighth highest value recorded at this station, which opened in 1917. The seven others had all been recorded between the end of July and the beginning of August.
“It is overwhelmingly hot today. I remain cloistered inside. The laundry dries in five minutes, we are more used to these temperatures during the months of July and August than in June”, indicated to the AFP Elizabeth Lembezat, retired in the coastal town of Macinaggio, at the northern end of Cap Corse.
“Beating a value at the beginning of the month on such an old and emblematic station is breathtaking and also reflects the hot surface anomaly in the Mediterranean. Worrying for the coming summer”, estimates forecasting engineer Gaétan Heymes on Twitter. .
In Ajaccio, it was 37.1°C. A few drops of rain fell in the morning on the largest Corsican city, leaving traces of sandy brown dust and the atmosphere was heavy and hot in the afternoon, according to an AFP correspondent.
The record in Cap Corse comes the day after the report drawn up by Météo-France for the spring (March-April-May). During this period, the rainfall deficit was 45% below normal, ranking the third driest spring since the beginning of the 20th century, behind 2011 and 1976, the year of historical drought.
It also ranked as the third warmest spring. The month of May was notably the hottest on record, with an average temperature of 17.8°C, one degree higher than the previous record of May 2011, equivalent to a month of June.
In a context of global warming which accentuates the frequency, intensity and duration of droughts, Météo-France is thus counting on a hot and dry summer (June-July-August).
Météo-France has also placed 65 departments ranging from the South-West to the North and East on orange vigilance for thunderstorms until Sunday morning.
“The risk of large hail is significant, especially in the Southwest and the Massif Central”, according to the organization.
