Weather tracker: Record heat engulfs parts of France, Portugal and Spain

High pressure across much of Europe comes amid worst drought in decades, while Canada braces for hot spell

Record-breaking heat has been sweeping southern and central Spain, Portugal and southern parts of France this week, with some areas soaring to the mid- to high 30s celsius.

On Wednesday, Amareleja in Portugal climbed to 39.5C (103.1F) - the joint-highest May temperature recorded. El Granado in Spain, hit 39.1C, while Canet-en-Roussillon in France peaked at 32.3C.