Europe faces prolonged heatwave as temperatures reach 40C

A heatwave across Europe is forecast to produce new record temperatures throughout the coming week.

In France, highs of 40C are expected today, with Monday likely to be even hotter as emergency services and military forces have been put on wildfire alert.

Half of France will be placed under red alert tomorrow, the government said, with the highest heat warning to be issued for 49 of France's 96 mainland departments, or administrative regions, while another 40 departments will be under orange alert, according to Meteo-France.

The forecaster said an extension of the red heatwave warning is possible for Monday in some departments currently under orange alert.

The heatwave is expected to produce peak temperatures of 42C.

Meanwhile, the head of SNCF, the French state-owned railway operator has advised vulnerable people against taking the train during the heatwave.

"We recommend the most vulnerable people postpone their trip or at least avoid taking the train during this heatwave," Jean Castex told reporters.

Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu also pre-emptively banned alcohol consumption at the annual Fete de la Musique festivals and other public events to be held in 35 regions today.

Authorities in Paris ordered parks to remain open around the clock, however.

UK to swelter in up to 38C

An extreme heat warning has been extended in the UK as record high temperatures of 38C are being forecast.

The UK Met Office said the heat could last until at least Thursday, sparking weather warnings, health alerts and concerns for vulnerable people.

Forecasters have said there is "growing confidence" this week could break the record for the hottest UK June temperature of 35.6C, which was set in 1976 in Southampton.

The coming days will see humid conditions and potentially tropical nights, when the overnight temperature does not fall below 20C, making it feel "muggier" than last month's heatwave, the Met Office said.

On Sunday, an amber extreme heat warning issued by the weather service was expanded to last from Monday until Thursday.

The alert flags potential health impacts for people vulnerable to extreme heat and heat-related issues for the wider population, as well as a possible increase in water safety incidents.

Monday and Tuesday's warning covers most of southern England, central and eastern Wales, and much of the Midlands, while Wednesday and Thursday's alert also includes parts of Greater Manchester, Yorkshire and Cheshire.

Substantial changes to working and daily routines will likely be required, and disruptions to road, air and rail travel should be expected, according to the weather service.

Met Office meteorologist Simon Partridge said: "Everybody will feel this because it will be very hot and the overnight temperatures, in particular, will mean that people won't be getting as much sleep, probably, as they would usually do, so it will affect everyone.

"There's also potential for impacts to transport as well. We know that when things get very warm, there can sometimes be issues with railway lines, and even the possibility that some roads might not be doing too well.

Separate amber heat health alerts have been issued by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) which now cover most of England from Monday morning until Friday night.

A yellow heat alert is also in place for north-east England during the same period.

Spain swelters in first official heatwave of 2026

Tourists and locals in Madrid struggled to cope with temperatures reaching up to 40 degrees Celsius today as the first official heatwave of 2026 set in.

AEMET, the state-run weather forecaster, said 13 of Spain's 17 regions are on orange alert for heat on Sunday, while the Basque Country, in the northwest, is on red alert, the highest level. The heatwave will continue until Thursday.

The weather agency warned of temperatures exceeding 39 to 40C across large parts of the Iberian Peninsula and Mallorca.