A Warm and Dry Autumn in France
Tuesday 15 December 2009
With an average temperature above normal* by +1.5°C, 2009 was the second warmest autumn since 1900.
The previous warmest autumn in France was in 2006 (+2.8 °C), and before that 1949 (+1.3 °C).
The warm autumn this year follows a hot summer and a mild spring.
According to Météo-France, warm weather was accompanied by generous levels of sunshine over the southern two thirds of the country, although it was closer to the average for the time of year north of the Seine.
If September and October saw temperatures above normal, the month of November was exceptionally hot, with an average temperature exceeding +2.7 °C for the time of year, making it the second warmest month of November since 1900.
By contrast, the level of rainfall did vary significantly, with it below average over the eastern half of the country, but above average for areas close to the Atlantic and Channel.
In the South, the level of rainfall was particularly low, notably in the Languedoc-Roussillon, where it was almost three times lower than normal.
* Average calculated using the reference period 1971-2000.
Related Reading: Hot Summer in France Brings Drought Conditions
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