Météo France: winter 2025-2026 among the wettest since 1959 but also among the mildest since 1900

"The winter of 2025-2026 was an exceptional one, marked by numerous storms and bad weather. February was the wettest on record since meteorological measurements began in 1959. This makes it the 8^th wettest winter on record", said Christine Berne, climatologist at Météo France, who presented the climate report for the winter of 2025-2026 on 04/03/2026.

"The rainfall at the start of 2026, which is exceptional and even locally historic, is not unprecedented. It is comparable to the start of the year in 1995, 2014 or 2016", says the report.

This heavy rainfall caused "major floods, lasting a very long time and affecting very large geographical areas. They are also linked to very slow flood propagation times. None of the floods exceeded the highest known water levels", adds Lucie Chadourne-Facon, director of the Vigicrues service.

With regard to temperatures, the climatologist points out that "a cold spell remarkable for the current climate began at the end of 2025 and lasted until January: it had not been this cold nationally since 2018, the date of the last cold snap".

Christine Berne…