After an already historically hot September, Luxembourg greets October with an exceptional hot spell, and the record for the hottest month of October may well arrive on Monday. If the forecast temperature of 26°C turns out to be accurate, it will equal the existing record for the highest temperature in October, which was previously set on 2 October 2011.
This extraordinary warmth aligns with observations by climatologists, indicating that man-made climate change is not only intensifying the severity of heatwaves but also affecting their timing, whether they occur earlier or later than usual.
It is also causing a greater rise in temperatures in Europe than anywhere else in the world: while the global climate is now around 1.2°C warmer than it was before the industrial era, the rise is estimated at 1.8°C in France.
Current temperatures in France are unprecedented for the autumn. From the south of Toulouse to Gironde, maximum temperatures are expected to be more than 10°C above seasonal norms, a symbol of climate change that is increasing the number of extreme and late-breaking events, forcing people to adapt.
According to Olivier Proust from Météo-France, “it’s exceptional because the air masses at play over the country are remarkably warm. The national heat record for October, held by Ajaccio with 35°C and, on the mainland, by Dax with 34.7°C, might fall on Monday.”
