Popular European destinations are facing extreme temperatures with the hot weather expected to soar well into the 40s in major holiday hotspots.
Warnings are in place for cities including Paris and Rome over the weekend and into next week, while wildfires have erupted in Greece.
Met Office spokesperson Stephen Dixon warned that southern and western Europe was experiencing a heatwave which was also extending into southeastern parts of the continent.
“Temperatures are expected to be 5-10C above normal fairly widely in Europe, with the potential for a few locations to reach around 40C in the southeast, and possibly even higher across parts of Iberia from Friday, likely challenging some June records,” he said.
“This excessive heat will extend north across other parts of western Europe early next week, and plays a role in the heatwave parts of the UK is expecting, though not with temperatures as high as those previously states,” added.
AccuWeather lead international forecaster Jason Nicholls said similar to the “burst of heat” earlier this month, a strong area of high pressure is going to build over western Europe from Morocco, bringing high temperatures.
That system will extend “upward through Spain, Portugal, into France, and eventually spreading out towards Germany and Italy as we get into the weekend”, he said.
Mr Nicholls added: “Worst case scenario, people could be suffering from heat stroke or heat exhaustion, especially if they’re outside during the prime heating part of the day, like midday/afternoon hours.”
Temperatures in Spain began to rise sharply on Friday, with heatwave conditions expected to continue until at least Tuesday with extremely high temperatures potentially reaching 42C in parts of the country, according to Spain’s meteorological office.
“Very high and persistent temperatures are expected, both during the day and at night, which could pose a risk to exposed and/or vulnerable people,” the agency said.
In the Canary Islands, temperatures could reach as high as 36C on Saturday, while inland Mallorca will occasionally reach 38C.
Also on the Iberian peninsula, Portugal’s weather forecaster has issued an orange warning for extreme high temperatures over the weekend.
Temperatures in Lisbon and central Portugal are forecast to exceed 42C by Sunday and the high 30s in southern parts of the country.
Paris is facing a heatwave from Monday, with temperatures peaking at 39C on Tuesday and forecasters urging caution for people who have to be outside for longer periods of time. Mr Nicholls said those temperatures at this time of year for Paris were not common, last occurring in 2022.
