Extreme heat warnings issued in parts of Europe with temperatures up to 40°C

Unusually high temperatures are expected in large parts of Western Europe over the weekend and into next week, according to several European weather authorities.

Germany and Switzerland, among others, have issued warnings for extreme heat, writes The New York Times. In northern Switzerland, temperatures could reach 37 degrees Celsius.

Parts of France, Italy and Spain could reach temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius, which is unusual this early in the summer. In France, temperatures already exceeded 40 degrees Celsius on Thursday.

In the UK, the weather service has also issued a warning of extreme heat for southern England, including London, and parts of Wales, with temperatures expected to reach 34 degrees Celsius.

The cause is a strong high-pressure area over the European continent that is drawing in warm air.