European heatwave 2019: New June heat records set as deadly heatwave heads towards UK

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Bonnie Christian27 June 2019

Germany, Poland and The Czech Republic have hit their highest ever recorded June temperatures as a so-called Saharan Bubble sweeps across the Continent.

There were three heat-related deaths in France on Wednesday as the mercury soared to over 40C.

The country is again expected to see sweltering temperatures on Thursday as other nations such as Switzerland will also brace for 40C heat.

In Britain, temperatures are expected to climb as high as 31C over the weekend as the heatwave spreads across Europe.

Temperatures are expected to reach the upper 20s during Glastonbury.
PA

Highs of 30C could be seen for eastern parts as far north as Yorkshire, while temperatures will be in the upper 20s for revellers at the Glastonbury Festival.

The 2,000-mile wide reservoir of warm air has sparked health warnings, closed schools and forced speed restrictions on Germany’s autobahns.

European forecasters warned that “hell is coming” ahead of the record-breaking heat wave.

On Wednesday, three swimmers died in separate incidents on beaches in southern France.

A man aged 70 suffered a cardiac arrest in calm water and was believed to have been a victim of 'thermic shock' after coming into contact with the water.

Two other people died in similar circumstances. A woman, 62, died at a beach near Montpellier, and a man aged 75 also died at another beach nearby.

Polar bear "Milana" holds an ice cake with frozen fruit as she takes a bath in her pool at the zoo in Hanover, northern Germany.
AFP/Getty Images

The French weather agency set the heat warning level at orange - the second highest intensity on its four-level categorisation system for potentially dangerous conditions requiring public vigilance.

On Wednesday, Coschen in Brandenburg peaked at 38.6C - a new German record for June.

Radzyn in Poland and Doksany in the Czech Republic also recorded new national highs, with temperatures hitting 38.2C and 38.9C respectively.

A man cools off at a fountain in downtown Rome as a heatwave hits Italy.
Reuters

Parts of France and Switzerland also recorded their local all-time highest temperatures ever.

Even in the high-altitude Aps, temperatures topped 30C in places.

Meteorologists warn the heatwave's conditions will intensify over the coming days. In parts of northeastern Spain, it may reach 45C on Friday.

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