Why isn't summer here this year?

A delayed summer of 2024, zooming in on the causes and effects.

Why is summer taking so long to arrive this year? That's the question many French people are asking themselves today. At the same time, the temperature in our European neighbors is climbing; and June 2024 has been classified as the hottest June on record worldwide.

In this article, we take a look at why it's been such a rainy start to the summer, and whether there's any prospect of improvement as the summer draws to a close.

June 2024: the hottest June on record worldwide

According to climate data for recent years, 2024 was the hottest June on record worldwide, a consequence of current global warming.

This information comes from the European observatory Copernicos, announcing an average global temperature of 16.66°C. This is 0.14°C higher than the previous record, set in 2023. By way of comparison, the 1991-2020 average was 15.99°C.

This may make you smile, considering the amount of rainfall experienced in mainland France during this period. However, the heatwave was present in many countries, including Greece, Mexico, Romania and China.

The repeated bad weather at the beginning of this summer is due to an exceptional climatic event, which we explain below.

Why have we had so much rain this summer?

As mentioned above, the below-seasonal temperatures and repeated rainy spells are caused by exceptionally unstable weather.

For several weeks now, France has been in the path of a cold air current generating rain, wind and cool temperatures. This is commonly referred to as an atmospheric low.

Normally, France is protected by anticyclones, particularly in summer by the Azores anticyclone. This year, however, a cold current is blocking the anticyclone and preventing us from enjoying the fine weather.

The problem is, until this current shifts, we're unlikely to see any lasting improvement. Fortunately, meteorologists are predicting a return to warmer temperatures and more sunshine from July onwards. ☀️

Source : TF1 Info

Are we safe from drought in 2024?

It's unlikely that we'll live through as much as we did in 2023, but "replenished water tables" doesn't necessarily mean "drought avoided".

It is possible to see completely replenished water tables draining away, following a heatwave lasting several weeks. This has already happened in 2018.

Beware, too, of overflowing water tables, which have an absorption limit. Too much water can lead to flooding, as we unfortunately saw in the north of France a few weeks ago.

The Pyrénées Orientales region is already under drought alert. The western region is currently recording the highest levels.

Are we in for an Indian summer?

An Indian summer sometimes comes after the summer, usually around October, when the summer climate is prolonged. This allows us to enjoy the sunshine and warmth of summer for longer.

You might think, "Well, summer got off to a late start, so it's going to end later?"

Well, not necessarily! Even if the meteorologists are predicting warmer weather for the next few weeks, that doesn't mean summer's going to last forever. It's still too far away to look ahead, so let's talk again in a few weeks 😉

In the meantime, make the most of the summer that's setting in, and remember to order your anti-heat window films so you don't die of heat over the next few days! 🥵