FLASH
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More than 20 cities in France have recorded their highest temperatures ever recorded for the month of May, while the UK also broke its national heat record for the period, as part of an extreme heat wave that has swept across Western Europe.
The British Met Office said temperatures reached 33.5 degrees Celsius at Heathrow near London, setting a new record for May. Meteorologists are warning that temperatures could rise to 35 degrees in the coming days.
France and Spain are also experiencing temperatures well above seasonal normal. According to Météo France, temperatures in some areas are 12 to 13 degrees higher than average for this period.
The French weather agency described the phenomenon as an "untimely, exceptional and long-lasting" episode of heat, which is expected to last for several more days.
According to French meteorologists, the heat wave is caused by a "heat dome", where hot air masses from Morocco are trapped over Europe by high atmospheric pressure.
French authorities warn that such phenomena will become "more frequent, more intense and earlier" due to climate change.
In France, 31 departments have been placed on high temperature alert, with eight of them at orange level, the second highest risk level.
Paris recorded 32.6 degrees Celsius on Sunday, while Bordeaux reached 34.2 degrees. The town of Brive-la-Gaillarde recorded 35.3 degrees, almost two degrees higher than the previous record for May.
One person died during a 10km running race near Paris, while 10 others were taken to hospital in critical condition due to high temperatures.
In Spain, temperatures in some southern areas reached 38 degrees over the weekend, while meteorologists warn that by Friday some regions could record up to 40 degrees Celsius.
Spanish authorities also warned of so-called "tropical nights", where nighttime temperatures do not drop below 20 degrees Celsius.
Climate experts warn that heat waves in Europe are occurring earlier and earlier in the year as a result of climate change.
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