France is experiencing unusually warm weather at the start of October, with temperatures frequently reaching 25 to 28°C, and occasionally even higher—levels typically seen during summer months. This prolonged heat is due to a combination of factors, including a south to southeast wind pattern that brings warm air from the Iberian Peninsula or northern Africa. Additionally, a high-pressure system covering much of Europe is preventing the arrival of cooler air from the north or the Atlantic. This atmospheric setup has allowed for a continuation of summer-like conditions well into autumn. The current weather pattern is expected to bring a brief "cooling period" over the next few days, with temperatures dropping slightly below average. However, by next week, the heat is likely to return, as the high-pressure system and the warm temperatures of surrounding seas continue to influence the climate. With fewer clouds and a sun that remains strong even as the days grow shorter, the ground—still warm from the summer and September—quickly heats up during the day. This, combined with the warm waters of the Mediterranean and the nearby Atlantic, slows down the cooling of the air, especially at night, creating an environment that favors higher temperatures. Climate change is playing a significant role in intensifying these weather patterns. The baseline temperature has risen over the past few decades, making these warm surges more extreme than they would have been in the past. While warm spells in October are not uncommon, they are now occurring in a much warmer atmosphere, which has been clearly demonstrated by the notable heat events of October 2022 and particularly 2023. These episodes showed how similar weather conditions can lead to exceptional levels of warmth when superimposed on a warmer climate.