Unusually high temperatures for the month of June have been breaking and continue to break heat records across Europe, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said at a press conference.
"The heatwave has a major impact on human health, ecosystems, agriculture and work capacity," Clare Nullis said.
Meteorologists call the phenomenon omega blocking.
"These kinds of blockages can persist for days or even weeks," John Kennedy, climate chief at the WMO, said.
Europe is warming faster than any other continent, according to the UN agency.
"Extreme heat will occur more regularly, last longer and occur with greater intensity as global warming continues," Kennedy said.
The WMO has compiled some of the heat records in a press release.
On June 24, the average temperature in France was 30 degrees Celsius and the hottest local temperature was 43.8 degrees Celsius in the western village of Palluau.
In Spain, it was hottest on June 23 and 24, with temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius. In Bilbao, a record-breaking 42.7 degrees Celsius was measured.
In the UK, the June heat record was broken three days in a row; the hottest temperature was 37.3 degrees Celsius in southern England, according to measurements on Friday.
In Switzerland, the June record was broken when 38 degrees Celsius was recorded in the city of Basel.
Germany has registered record highs of 40 degrees Celsius in several places, and as the heat moves eastward toward the Balkans, further heat records are expected to be measured in several countries there.
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