Paris smashes its all time high temperature with new record today of 42.6C
Paris experienced a heatwave in late June but temperatures are forecast to be even hotter this week ( AFP/Getty Images )
Paris joined the growing list of all-time high temperatures being broken as the second blistering heat wave of the summer gripped a wide swath of Europe.
Following the record warm start to the day, Thursday brought the peak of the deadly heat wave in France as temperatures soared to 42.6 C (108.7 F) in Paris. That breaks the city's all-time high temperature record of 40.4 C (104.7 F) at Parc Montsouris, set more than 70 years ago.
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Thursday marks the third consecutive day of records falling as Europe endures its second heat wave of the summer.
Bordeaux, in southwestern France, reported its highest ever temperature on Tuesday as the mercury climbed to 41.2 C (106.2 F). Several other locations across southwestern France also reported all-time high temperatures on Tuesday, according to Meteo France.
Belgium also set an all-time high temperature on Wednesday when temperatures soared to 39.9 C (103.8 F) in Kleine Brogel.
Records were even broken on Wednesday night with France setting a preliminary record for the all-time warmest night.
In Paris, the temperature at Parc Montsouris only dropped to 25.0 C (77 F) and broke the city's July highest low temperature record. Wednesday night is the third all-time warmest behind the 25.5 C (77.9 F) reading on 11 and 12 August 2003.
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The French government banned animal transportation "for economic reasons" between the hours 1:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m., local time, in areas affected by orange and red heat alerts .
Meanwhile, the cities of Paris and Lyon have also banned heavily polluting vehicles from entering the center of both cities in a bid to keep the air clean during the heat wave.
Stages of the Tour de France in the mountains into Saturday will limit the extreme heat, but riders will still have to contend with above-normal temperatures on Friday. A thunderstorm may also erupt and pose dangers to riders.
More numerous showers and thunderstorms are expected for Saturday's stage as cooler air arriving from the northwest clashes with the heat.
The Tour de France will conclude on Sunday in Paris where heat will not be an issue. A high of 24 C (75 F) with mostly dry conditions is expected.
Residents of Paris, however, will welcome a turn to much more comfortable conditions starting on Friday.
The heat wave will finally break on Friday for the U.K., western France and into Spain but will hold for one more day across central Europe from the Netherlands to Austria, Switzerland and eastern France.
Kenneth from the Donegal Weather Channel
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