Europe is set for a severe heatwave with some parts of the continent about to scorch in 42C heat.
Five regions of the UK have been placed on an amber heat health alert until Tuesday, with temperatures set to reach 36C on Monday in parts of the country.
It comes as wildfires and flooding have swept across the continent this week.
Health services in the East Midlands, South East, South West, London, and the East of England have been placed on the second highest heat alert, while a yellow alert is in force in Yorkshire and Humber, and the West Midlands.
An amber alert was previously issued for all regions in England on June 19, the first time it had been used since September 2023.
Elsewhere in Europe, the mercury is set to reach into the 40s, including in Portugal’s capital Lisbon, which is set to experience temperatures as high as 42C on Sunday.
In Spain, meteorological agency Aemet has issued a special heatwave warning for the south west and the north east near the Pyrenees, where in parts it is expected to reach 42C.
Areas of northern Italy and Sicilia have suspended work during the hottest time of the day amid intense heat.
In Nice in southern France, schools have been supplied with 250 portable fans to keep classes running.
Public swimming pools in Marseille have been made free to use for the duration of the heatwave.
Residents near Athens, Greece were forced to evacuate their homes as wildfires engulfed several coastal towns.
Alongside the heatwave will be more misery for hayfever sufferers, with a grass pollen ‘bomb’ expected in the coming days.
Temperatures are expected to peak in southern England on Monday when the mercury is expected to hit 36C, while on Sunday and Tuesday temperatures of 31C are likely.
Meteorologist Ellie Glaisyer said most Britons could expect to wake up to a very warm start on Sunday thanks to an area of low pressure progressing from the south.
She said: ‘It’s been a very warm day for many of us on Saturday and that heat is going to continue to build as we head into the start of the new working week.’
As Sunday progresses, a band of cloud and rain across will move across central parts of the UK, before gradually edging northwards.
Showers will ease before eventually turning heavier in the North West.
Temperatures will remain cooler in some parts, with 21C the highest likely to be reached in Scotland, and 23C in south west England.
However beyond Tuesday it will begin to feel much fresher across most areas of the UK as temperatures ease back down to the lower 20s for the remainder of the week.
There’s a chance the UK may break it’s record hottest day in June which has stood since 1976 when the mercury reached 35.6C in Southampton.
The official threshold for a heatwave is three consecutive days of temperatures between 25 and 28C, depending on the area of the UK.
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