February 2024 was the hottest February on record worldwide, according to the European Copernicus Observatory. In France, temperatures were 3.4°C above seasonal norms and all regions were affected.
Some trees are already in flower, which worries arborists who fear that the buds will freeze in the coming weeks, like Westhoffen, in Bas-Rhin. “We've been used to it being a little early for several years, but it's really particularly early this year. We're a fortnight early,” says arborist Daniel Dettling.