September 2026: second hottest and third driest month on record

Very rare clouds and rain. The month of September 2026 was the second hottest and third driest in the history of records, according to the climate report published Friday October 2 by Météo-France.

Throughout this month, the average temperature was +3.1°C above normal. September 2026 was also the "third wettest month of September since measurements began in 1958", behind 1977 and 1985, with a precipitation deficit reaching 70% on average across the country.

The drought even worsened during the month. The national soil drought indicator is at a level never before observed for this time of year, according to Météo-France.

In mainland France, 81,300 people depend on a supply of tanker trucks or bottled water to drink, wash or cook, according to the latest report from the Ministry of Ecological Transition, dated September 23.

Finally, there was very much excess sunshine, with an anomaly of more than 30%.