Record heat in Europe before the beginning of the astronomical summer. In 23 departments of France, a red code has been declared for dangerous hot weather. Due to high temperatures exceeding 39 degrees, students are allowed not to attend classes.
In Spain, which has experienced the warmest month of May since the turn of the century, temperatures are expected to top 43. High temperatures have sparked wildfires in several regions. The largest outbreak is in Zamora, where eleven thousand hectares are burning and more than 1,700 residents have been evacuated. Catalonia, Zaragoza, and Navarre were also affected. A hot weather warning is in place for all autonomous regions in Spain, with code orange introduced in 11 regions.
Dangerous weather has also caused several forest fires in Germany, including near the capital Berlin. The UK is also unusually hot, with high temperatures reported in Poland, Austria, and Switzerland. The hot weather is expected to continue today and the wave will spread to Eastern Europe.