PARIS – A severe heatwave is sweeping across Europe, prompting authorities in multiple countries to issue their highest-level heat warnings as temperatures threaten to break long-standing records and claim lives.

Scientists have shown that recurring heatwaves are a clear marker of global warming, and warn they are set to become more frequent, longer and more intense.

UK braces for hottest June on record

The UK’s meteorological office issued the highest level of heat warning for parts of central and southern England for Wednesday and Thursday, with temperatures potentially rising as high as 40°C in some places.

“An exceptional spell of hot and humid weather is expected across this region,” the Met Office said on Monday, covering London, Birmingham, Bath and other areas of England, a month after the UK broke its May temperature record.

“It is now likely the current highest temperature on record for June will be broken, this being 35.6°C recorded in Southampton in June 1976 and Camden Square in June 1957,” the forecaster said.

Thirteen drown in France as heatwave peaks

Thirteen people drowned across France at the weekend, the civil defence said, as the country braced for a peak of 43°C in the southwest with half the country on red alert for unhealthy heat.

The authorities urged people not to swim unsupervised, as forecasters warned the extreme weather episode could end up being as serious as a 2003 heatwave that claimed the lives of nearly 15 000 people nationwide.

Some 845 schools were shut on Monday because of the heat, with another 1 800 set to allow students to leave earlier than usual.

Transport networks under strain

Transport authorities across Europe warned of severe disruptions as railway networks struggle to cope with extreme temperatures.

“The transport network comes under severe strain in periods of extreme heat. You probably know this already, but railways cannot withstand temperatures above 50 degrees,” Valerie Pecresse, head of the Ile-de-France greater Paris region, told journalists.

“That is why we have advised all passengers who can to postpone their journeys, particularly vulnerable people, and for everyone who is able to work from home to do so.”

The French and Belgian authorities also cancelled or cut back rail services because of fears of breakdowns causing logjams and delays.

ALSO READ: Record temperatures as spring heatwave bakes Europe

Spain cancels World Cup screening

Spain entered the second day of a heatwave on Monday which dragged the usually cooler Basque country on the border with France towards temperatures potentially exceeding 40°C, prompting a red weather warning and the authorities urging people to keep their windows closed.

The heat had already forced the authorities to cancel a planned screening in Madrid of Spain’s World Cup clash against Saudi Arabia, which the European champions won 4-0.

Spain’s weather service Aemet warned of “extremely high” temperatures for the season, day and night, until Wednesday, with temperatures forecast to hit 44°C in some areas.

Portugal, Belgium face record heat

Areas in central and northern Portugal faced potential temperatures “close to previously recorded highs”, whilst temperatures would be above average but “relatively typical” elsewhere, the IPMA weather agency said.

Three northern inland districts were placed on orange alert until Tuesday, said Meteo Portugal, which warned that the winds would worsen the “thermal discomfort”.

Temperatures in Belgium are expected to be “the hottest ever recorded” in the coming week, warned David Dehenauw, head of forecasting at the IRM meteorological institute.

ALSO READ: France issues red alert as severe heatwave grips nation