Europe failed to act after the 2003 French heatwave. We cannot ignore this one | Ruben Hallali

Record temperatures are being recorded as warnings pile up. It's vital action is taken against climate breakdown now

Several French temperature records were broken on 28 June during this historic heatwave, including the highest temperature ever recorded in the country since records began - 45.9C. The previous high was set during the 2003 heatwave, which was the most significant episode in France's meteorological history until now.

Saharan air has engulfed the country. On 20 June, while meteorologists were discussing the projections of the American global forecast system model, a map with a disturbing resemblance to Munch's painting The Scream came to my attention. Within a few days, the media spotted this comparison and the image went viral. In 15 years of model observation I had never seen such high temperatures predicted for France, especially in June. The forecast, made more than a week in advance, proved correct: records were not just broken, they were smashed.