The Mediterranean Sea has seen unusually high temperatures this summer, with western areas reaching nearly 28 degrees Celsius by late July—3.4 degrees above the pre-industrial average. This early and intense warming is linked to increased rainfall in southern France, especially in the Cévennes mountain range. Scientists have identified a physical connection between warmer sea temperatures and increased evaporation, which contributes to more intense rainfall. For every additional degree of surface temperature in the Mediterranean, rainfall in the Cévennes is expected to rise by about 7 percent. Traditionally, the most severe rainfall episodes in southern France occur between September and November. However, this year, some of these intense rain events have already started as early as mid-August, due to the early warming of the sea. The eastern Mediterranean also experienced unusual heat, with average temperatures reaching 27.6 degrees Celsius along the coast of eastern Italy and Greece. In Corsica, temperatures peaked at 29.7 degrees Celsius in the town of Calvi by mid-August. The heat absorbed by the sea remains stored as energy and humidity, ready to be released when weather conditions allow. This stored energy can fuel the most dangerous rainfall episodes in southern France. While scientists are still cautious about making a direct and definitive link between sea temperatures and the frequency of these rain events, there is clear evidence that when such episodes do occur, they are more intense than in the past. Southern France remains on high alert for severe weather. The Aveyron region is currently under a yellow alert for thunderstorms and flooding, while Corsica has experienced intense weather conditions. Two departments in Corsica were recently downgraded from an orange to a yellow alert for violent thunderstorms, indicating a continued but slightly reduced risk of severe weather. Scientists emphasize that more time and data—likely spanning several decades—will be needed to fully understand the long-term relationship between rising sea temperatures and the frequency of extreme rainfall events in the region.