This is one of the rainiest years since the 19th century in Paris

undefined 3 juin 2024 undefined 12h16

The Editor

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"Clap, clip, clap, little April rain, your melody is enchanting." In recent months, the rain has watered our daily life well, making the year 2024 one of the rainiest years on a Parisian and French scale! And it's far from being a real "enchantment"...

Finally, after weeks of non-stop watering, the rain is giving us a little break on this happy Monday, June 3rd. Since October 2023, France has been getting showered with almost constant rain. Some people are calling it one of the rainiest periods in history!


One of the rainiest years since the 19th century

If the younger ones are tired of this gloominess and downpours that seem to never stop, the older generations have a sense of déjà vu. Such a rainy episode had already been observed between October 2000 and April 2001, when 870 millimeters of rain had fallen. Between October 2023 and April 2024, 750 millimeters have fallen, making it the second wettest year since records began with the launch of the first meteorological satellite in 1960. In Paris, this start of the year would even be one of the rainiest since the 19th century and more specifically since 1886, as shown by Infoclimat!


A phenomenon that won't be getting any better

Improving

Why are these astronomical amounts of rain falling from the sky? According to climatologists, this can be explained by the intense activity of atmospheric rivers, which are long and narrow regions in the atmosphere that transport large amounts of water vapor. These rivers have been particularly active this year, resulting in the excessive rainfall that has been experienced.

The rising temperature of the ocean. The natural phenomenon El Niño, caused by abnormal surface water temperatures in the South Pacific, leads to increased precipitation. "In the atmosphere, an extra degree means 7% more humidity, and that is why the rains are much stronger than before," explains Evelyne Dhéliat, a weather expert at TF1. With a growing climate change, such phenomena are becoming more frequent. Weather conditions may intensify and have significant consequences: floods, cyclones, storms, hurricanes, etc. Link here for more information!Infographic: What are the effects of El Niño on the global climate? | Statista You can find more infographics on Statista