'A winter's worth of rain': France's record 40-day streak comes to an end

France 24

by FRANCE 24

February 24, 2026

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'A winter's worth of rain': France's record 40-day streak comes to an end

France’s record-breaking streak of 40 consecutive days of rain officially ended on Monday, according to Météo-France, marking the longest such period since records began in 1959. The relentless rainfall, which spanned from January 14 to February 22, led to severe flooding across parts of the country, particularly in southwestern France. This unprecedented weather event was fueled by a series of Atlantic disturbances and named storms, including Goretti, Ingrid, Nils, and Pedro, as well as climate change, which increases the intensity and frequency of heavy rainfall. The prolonged downpour brought an entire winter’s worth of rain—or more—to regions like Brittany, southwestern France, and the Mediterranean coast. February 2026 was the wettest on record in France since 1959, with the winter of 2025-2026 set to rank among the top 10 wettest winters ever recorded. Rivers in western France that had been swollen with exceptional flooding began to recede slowly over the weekend, though the situation remains challenging in many areas. This extreme weather highlights the growing impact of climate change on global weather patterns. Warmer temperatures increase atmospheric water vapor, leading to more intense rainfall events and altering traditional precipitation cycles. The record-breaking rain streak serves as a stark reminder of how climate change is reshaping weather systems and increasing the risk of flooding and other extreme weather phenomena. For France—and the world—this underscores the urgent need to adapt to these changing conditions and prepare for more frequent and severe weather events.

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Originally published on France 24 on 2/24/2026