In 2024, France experienced a climatic year marked by several records. In the sky, the clouds were particularly prevalent during the previous 12 months, which did not prevent temperatures from rising and sometimes exceeding 40°C. The year 2024 was also marked by episodes of intense rain, particularly in the region, according to the annual report from Météo-France. Provence, for its part, was particularly marked by a very mild winter compared to normal.
According to data from the national meteorological institute, the year 2024 is the 4th hottest year in France since measurements began in 1900 despite a fairly significant lack of sunshine compared to normal. Another notable fact: 2024 is one of the 10 rainiest years in France. Rains also more abundant in Provence.
A lack of sun
The big absence this year was the sun, hidden behind more abundant cloud cover than usual. Indeed, 2024 is the least sunny year in France in 30 years. A notable data, because, according to Météo-France, the deficit reaches 10% and “locally 30% over a large northern half“.
And it was the month of December which was the grayest, with the exception of 3 regions, including Provence: the South-East, Corsica and the south of Alsace. Indeed, “around the Mediterranean, we are within normal limits“, assures Météo-France Aix antenna.
Long heat waves
If the sun was lacking this year, the heat continued to strike. Thus, despite a lack of sunshine, the average temperature continued to rise, making 2024 one of the hottest years recorded: it became the 4th hottest since measurements began, tied with 2018 but behind the scorching years 2022 and 2023.
The cause: an average temperature of 13.9°C, or 0.9°C more than normal. Above all, “days warmer than normal were twice as numerous as colder days“, underlines Météo-France.
Several heat waves have hit France this year and the mercury has again exceeded 40°C on several occasions, especially in the southern half of the country. However, it never fell below 15°C.thus illustrating the rarefaction of cold in our countrys”.
A particularly visible decrease in Provence: “We had a rather warm winter compared to other years.“, underlines Météo-France branch of Aix. Which explains that in Paca, the average temperature of last year was 1.3 ° C higher than the previous ones, the winter season having strongly pushed this figure towards the high.
More rain around the Mediterranean
The heat is not the only one to have exceeded the usual thresholds this year, because the rain also takes pride of place in this annual report: 2024 is the 7th rainiest year in France since 1900. The only exception : Corsica, the only region to have experienced a precipitation deficit.
In terms of seasons, last spring was the rainiest since 2008 and September was particularly wet. The month marking the end of the summer season saw a 60% increase in precipitation compared to 1991-2020 normals.
Good news for the region too: rainfall in 2024 will finally have returned to normal. “Compared to the years 2021, 2022 and 2023 which were in deficit, we found quantities of rain rather close to normal. It's reassuringt”, assures the meteorological institute.
The Provençals may have been marked by intense Mediterranean episodes: extreme rains were 12% more numerous. Rainfall so powerful that the Old Port of Marseille was flooded on September 4 and October 8.
All these data which mark so many records are also indicators of climate change in France. Faced with these trends, France must prepare to face an increasingly extreme climate.
