Britain is bracing for its third heatwave of the year this week as forecasters warn it could last longer than previous spells of hot weather.
While temperatures peaked at 37.7C at the end of June, the Met Office has indicated that the current heatwave will be slightly cooler, reaching around 35C.
However, for those preparing to kick-start summer holidays on the continent, heatwave warnings remain in place across several parts of Europe.
From France and Spain to Croatia and Greece, here are the European hotspots where temperatures are expected to soar.
When will the next heatwave be in Europe’s holiday destinations?
France
On Monday, 6 July at 3pm, temperatures reached 40C in the interior of Aude and 38C in Bordeaux and Montpellier.
Metéo-France said that the heatwave will intensify further on Tuesday and spread north and east.
“The heatwave will reach its peak, with highs of 35 to 38 degrees Celsius across most regions, and up to 38 to 41 degrees Celsius in a large part of the southwest,” it added.
As of midday on Tuesday, orange weather alerts will apply to most of France, with only the Hauts-de-France region, the Channel coast and the eastern part of the country remaining below 35C.
Spain
Aemet, the Spanish weather agency, has issued a special heatwave notice for areas including the Ebro valley and Pyrenees valleys from 5 to 9 July.
The organisation said: “The significant increase in maximum temperatures in the eastern Cantabrian region today, which, although shorter in duration, will be very significant.
“Thus, a significant level of danger is expected during the central hours of the day, especially for outdoor activities and vulnerable individuals (the elderly, those with cardiovascular disease, etc), with very warm nights also expected across large areas of the southwestern quadrant and the Ebro Valley.”
Red weather warnings on Tuesday forecast temperatures of 40C to 42C, with areas along the Valencian coast and pre-coastal areas reaching 44C.
Portugal
Temperatures have climbed again in Portugal, with much of the country’s eastern border currently under a red weather warning from Portugal’s weather agency, IPMA.
From Monday, red warnings are in effect for a “persistence of extremely high temperatures” in Portalegre, Guarda, Castelo Branco and Braganca.
Today, temperatures of 41C are forecast for Portalegre and Castelo Branco, with highs of 42C expected in Evora.
Italy
In Italy, nine cities currently have orange weather warnings in place for Wednesday, 8 July. Last week, 25 out of 27 cities were under a red heat warning from the Italian Ministry of Health.
Highs up to 37C are forecast for Verona, Milan and Florence later this week as temperatures rise.
Greece
According to the Hellenic National Meteorological Service (HNMS), much of the west coast of Greece, the Ionian Islands and Central Makedonia are under a yellow weather warning for high air temperature values and thunderstorms on Monday, 6 July.
HNMS said: “High air temperature values (during the day), expected to get locally up to 35 degrees Celsius. BE AWARE. Some health risks amongst vulnerable people, e.g. the elderly and very young, are possible.”
Croatia
As of Monday 6 July, Croatia’s weather service, DHMZ, has issued yellow weather warnings for several regions, including the Rijeka seaport region and the west coast of Istria.
Temperatures could reach highs of 33C in Rijeka this week, with severe thunderstorms expected.
DHMZ said: “BE CAREFUL due to possible severe thunderstorms. Be especially careful in exposed areas such as mountains, forests and meadows or open terrain. Outdoor activities may be disrupted.”
Are wildfires affecting tourist destinations?
Yes. Wildfires are currently burning in France, Portugal, Greece and Spain following high temperatures on the continent.
Outside of Porto, a fire in the Vouzela area has been burning for more than three days. The wildfire has already scorched an area of 12,000 hectares (30,000 acres), according to data from the European Union's Copernicus satellite mapping agency.
In the Greek city of Thessaloniki, residents have been warned about toxic smoke from a recycling plant that is alight, while firefighters are also responding to another blaze west of Athens.
A fire to the that ignited on Friday in the northeastern Girona region of Spain above Barcelona has also consumed nearly 2,200 hectares (5,400 acres), according to the EFE news agency.
On Friday, thousands of tourists were forced to flee their campsites in southern France during a blaze near Sainte-Marie-la-Mer, on the border with Spain.
Elsewhere in France, in Fréjus near Cannes, up to 2,000 holidaymakers were evacuated from six campsites after a wildfire broke out nearby.
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