A red weather warning has been issued for almost every department in France. In the southeastern parts of the country, two children, aged two and four, were found dead in their family's car on Monday.
The causes of death have not yet been determined, but the heat wave is the likely cause, said Hélène Mourges, the prosecutor in Carpentras, where temperatures are predicted to reach 39 degrees.
More than 800 schools are closed. Another 1,800 schools have adjusted their schedules due to the extreme heat, BFMTV reports.
"It was 32 degrees in the classroom for the children last week. It will soon get worse," a primary school teacher in the Arcachon Bay told AFP.
Latest
During the day, temperatures are expected to reach up to 43 degrees in some parts of the country - especially in the west. A red weather warning has been issued in 49 of the country's departments on Monday. An orange warning is in effect in 40 other departments.
Monday night was the warmest night in France in seven years. The national average was measured at 21.4 degrees, the same level as during a heat wave in July 2019. But the next two nights are expected to be even warmer, according to forecasts from the weather agency Météo-France.
The risk of forest fires is assessed as "high" in 17 of the country's departments.
According to Météo-France, large parts of the country are entering what is described as a "plateau" of heat that is not expected to begin to ease until Friday. Several drowning accidents have been reported in connection with people bathing to cool off.
Warm across Europe
In southwestern Germany, temperatures are expected to rise to 40 degrees, while the heat wave is moving further north. The heat is not expected to subside until next weekend.
In the eastern parts of the country, in Berlin and surrounding Brandenburg, a thunderstorm has moved in. Rescue services have had to rush out in many places to pump water out of basements and clear fallen trees.
A heatwave is also expected in the UK this week, with temperatures forecast to reach 38 degrees over the next four days. The Netherlands and Belgium are also expected to be at their hottest on Wednesday or Thursday, with temperatures reaching 37 degrees.
Use sunscreen
Dutch authorities note a high UV index and urge bathers to apply sunscreen with a high sun protection factor.
In Italy, temperatures in several places are reaching around ten degrees above average for the period. In Spain, temperatures are also expected to be around 40 degrees in many places by mid-week.
