Weather tracker: heatwave sweeps parts of Europe in run-up to summer solstice

Extreme temperatures follow warmest-ever May in France and hottest in Spain in a century

Extreme heat has been affecting the Iberian peninsula and France over the past week. These high temperatures have occurred unusually early, with this event likely to be one of the most severe before the summer solstice.

It follows the warmest May on record for France and hottest for Spain in at least 100 years. Temperatures have been about 10C above the average in some places for this time of year, putting intense pressure on vulnerable groups and the demand for electricity for air conditioning.