A deadly heatwave spreading across Europe is breaking temperature records, fuelling wildfires, and disrupting transportation, as the continent faces the impact of climate change.
In France, Brest — on the normally cool Atlantic coast — saw the temperature reach a record 39.3C in the afternoon, 18C above normal and breaking the 1949 record of 35.2C, while Nantes, also in Brittany, recorded 42C. Elsewhere in the west of the country the heat exceeded or approached the record levels of the 2019 heatwave. Meanwhile London sizzled at 37.4C.
Temperatures in the UK are forecast to climb even higher on Tuesday, as an unusual atmospheric pattern carries hot air from southern Europe further north.