Britain and France went on high alert on Monday, bracing for record temperatures from a punishing heatwave as deadly wildfires raging in parts of southwest Europe showed no sign of abating.
The Luton Airport runway was closed because of a surface defect in the heat today as Wales recorded its hottest day on record with England set to follow later on.
France was on high alert yesterday as the peak of a punishing heat wave gripped the nation, while wildfires raging in parts of southwest Europe showed no sign of abating.
Forecasters have put 15 French departments on the highest state of alert for extreme temperatures as neighboring Britain was poised to set new heat records this week.
The heat wave is the second to engulf parts of southwest Europe in weeks, and blazes burning in France, Greece, Portugal and Spain have destroyed thousands of hectares of land, and forced thousands of residents and holidaymakers to flee.
Scientists blame climate change and predict more