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| European heatwave: Temperature may pass highest on record in France | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| France may hit its highest-ever recorded temperature on Friday in a heatwave that has swept across Europe this week. | France may hit its highest-ever recorded temperature on Friday in a heatwave that has swept across Europe this week. |
| The current record is 44.1C (111.4F) - measured during a heatwave in 2003 which killed thousands of people. | The current record is 44.1C (111.4F) - measured during a heatwave in 2003 which killed thousands of people. |
| In response, France's national weather service has issued an unprecedented red alert warning for four regions in the south. | In response, France's national weather service has issued an unprecedented red alert warning for four regions in the south. |
| Most of the country remains on orange alert, the second-highest level. | Most of the country remains on orange alert, the second-highest level. |
| Swathes of the continent are experiencing extreme heat. Germany, France, Poland and the Czech Republic have all recorded their highest-ever June temperatures, and in Spain firefighters are battling Catalonia's worst wildfires in 20 years. | Swathes of the continent are experiencing extreme heat. Germany, France, Poland and the Czech Republic have all recorded their highest-ever June temperatures, and in Spain firefighters are battling Catalonia's worst wildfires in 20 years. |
| Meteorologists say hot air drawn in from northern Africa is responsible, caused by high pressure over central Europe and a storm stalling over the Atlantic. | Meteorologists say hot air drawn in from northern Africa is responsible, caused by high pressure over central Europe and a storm stalling over the Atlantic. |
| In southern France, areas of Gard, Vaucluse, Herault and Bouches-du-Rhone are expected to see temperatures between 42C and 45C on Friday. | In southern France, areas of Gard, Vaucluse, Herault and Bouches-du-Rhone are expected to see temperatures between 42C and 45C on Friday. |
| French authorities have stepped up restrictions on water use to combat the heatwave's effects, while hundreds of schools have been closed. | French authorities have stepped up restrictions on water use to combat the heatwave's effects, while hundreds of schools have been closed. |
| In a TV interview, health minister Agnès Buzyn said she was concerned about the increase in calls to emergency service numbers as a result of the heatwave. | In a TV interview, health minister Agnès Buzyn said she was concerned about the increase in calls to emergency service numbers as a result of the heatwave. |
| She called on members of the public to avoid "risky behaviour" like leaving children in cars or jogging outside in the middle of the day. | She called on members of the public to avoid "risky behaviour" like leaving children in cars or jogging outside in the middle of the day. |
| Is climate change to blame? | Is climate change to blame? |
| Linking a single event to global warming is complicated. | Linking a single event to global warming is complicated. |
| While extreme weather events like heatwaves occur naturally, experts say these will happen more often because of climate change. | While extreme weather events like heatwaves occur naturally, experts say these will happen more often because of climate change. |
| Records going back to the late 19th Century show that the average temperature of the Earth's surface has increased by about one degree since industrialisation. | Records going back to the late 19th Century show that the average temperature of the Earth's surface has increased by about one degree since industrialisation. |
| A climatology institute in Potsdam, Germany, says Europe's five hottest summers since 1500 have all been in the 21st Century. | A climatology institute in Potsdam, Germany, says Europe's five hottest summers since 1500 have all been in the 21st Century. |
| Scientists are concerned that rapid warming linked to use of fossil fuels has serious implications for the stability of the planet's climate. | Scientists are concerned that rapid warming linked to use of fossil fuels has serious implications for the stability of the planet's climate. |