The French city of Bordeaux has hit its highest temperature since records began, as Western Europe braces for the second heatwave to hit this summer.
On Tuesday, Meteo France registered 41.2C (106.1F) in the south-western city, breaking a 2003 record of 40.7C.
Forecasters predict a record-breaking run across Europe this week, including Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands.
A World Meteorological Organization spokeswoman said the heatwaves bore “the hallmark of climate change”.
“As we saw in June they are becoming more frequent, they’re starting earlier and they’re becoming more intense,” Claire Nullis added. “It’s not a problem that’s going to go away.”
How hot could it get?
Much of France has been issued with an orange alert – the second highest level of warning.
Meteo France said Paris temperatures might hit new highs on Thursday. The record, set in 1947, stands at 40.4C.
Comparisons have been drawn to a heatwave France experienced in August 2003, during which heat contributed to almost 15,000 deaths.
The mercury is also expected to climb to 40C in a string of countries:
- In an unprecedented move, Belgium has issued a code red weather warning for the whole country
- Spain declared a red alert in its Zaragoza region, which was hit by devastating wildfires last month. The European Commission’s Copernicus Climate Change Service says the risk of wildfires is high in Spain and in Portugal
- In the Netherlands, the government activated its “national heat plan”
- In the UK, temperatures are predicted to exceed 35C, and could be the highest ever recorded
