Europe gripped by record-breaking heatwave - in pictures

Countries in northern Europe register record high temperatures

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Record temperatures are being set across Europe, including France and Germany, as the continent swelters on Thursday in what is its second heat wave this summer.

Meteorologists warned this could become the new normal in many parts of the world. But temperate Europe — where air conditioning is rare — is not equipped for the temperatures frying the region this week.

So tourists frolicked in fountains to seek relief, and authorities and volunteers fanned out to help the elderly, sick and homeless hit hardest by the heat.

Trains were cancelled in Britain and France, and French authorities urged travellers to stay home.

One by one, heat records were being broken across Europe.

On Thursday afternoon Paris hit 41.6 degrees Celsius, beating the previous record of 40.4°C set in 1947.

Authorities said the temperature was still rising, as a result of hot, dry air coming from northern Africa that's trapped between cold stormy systems.

The German Weather Service confirmed 40.9°C in Lingen, West Germany, after 40.5°C was reached in Geilenkirchen, near Moenchengladbach, on Wednesday.

The Netherlands and Belgium also reported new record highs and Britain is expected to do so later.

Temperatures soared across Europe. The National
Temperatures soared across Europe. The National