Severe heatwave continues across western Europe with all time records broke in Belgium and Netherlands todayy
Latest temperatures been indicated by the GFS later next week
Today severe heat effected much of western Europe has heatwave conditions continued to intensify with temperatures in the high 30s and low 40s across France, Benelux, Germany, Italy, Switzerland and Spain today.
Portugal faced four-days worth of turbulent wildfire this week leading to at least 41 people being injured amid the blazes. As temperatures across Europe reach sweltering heats of up to 42C this week, the wildfires in Portugal which began on Saturday have now been brought under control. However, whilst these destructive fires blazed, the fires reaped catastrophe across the country. But which tourist hotspots were the worst hit by the wildfires?
The wildfire first began on Saturday in the Vila de Rei municipality in the district of Castelo Branco, before it spread to the Macao municipality in the Santarem district.
The wildfire first began on Saturday in the Vila de Rei municipality in the district of Castelo Branco, before it spread to the Macao municipality in the Santarem district.
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Belgium and the Netherlands set all time records today. Belgium pushed to at least 39.9 °C in Kleine-Brogel, with the station in Herhet producing an unofficial reading of 40.3 °C - both values breaking all time maximum temperature records. Eindhoven in the Netherlands pushed up to 39.3 °C, breaking the all time maximum temperature record.
Belgian meteorologists have reported record high temperatures today as western Europe sweltered in a heatwave that has disrupted transport and triggered safety warnings.
David Dehenauw, chief forecaster at the Royal Meteorological Institute (IRM), said a high of 39.9 degrees Celsius was recorded at the Kleine-Brogel military base, about 100 kilometres northeast of Brussels and near the Dutch border.
The figure surpassed a previous reading of 38.8 degrees Celsius that Mr Dehenauw had given for the same site just hours earlier.
In a tweet, the official said this was the highest since Belgium's first records were kept in 1833, and warned that temperatures are expected to rise further tomorrow.
The previous record temperature was 38.8 degrees on 27 June 1947. But that number was revised down to 36.6 Celsius in 1980 after new, more accurate equipment was installed at the institute's observatory in the Brussels district of Uccle.
Mr Dehenauw said the latest record reading from today was "provisional" and could yet be beaten during the current heatwave, which is forecast to last until late Friday.
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Last night and Wednesday morning, large parts of Britain experienced storms and lightning strikes as the country braced for what could be its hottest day ever later this week.
Thunderstorms moved into southern and western areas late yesterday evening, with the Met Office issuing a yellow severe weather warning for most of England, Wales and Scotland.
new temperature highs in a string of countries, including Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Netherlands and England could be broken on Thursday.
In Kent, where the temperature soared to 32C, more than 100 firefighters, 20 fire engines and a variety of specialist support vehicles worked to control a fire on the Lydd Ranges.
Other hotspots included Cardiff and Watnall, Nottinghamshire, where the mercury rose to 30C.
Met Office forecaster Luke Miall said temperatures in London are expected to reach 38C tomorrow, which would pass the current record for a day in July - 36.7C - recorded at Heathrow Airport in 2015.
The coolest areas will be Northern Ireland and western Scotland. Although it will still be quite warm, it will be in the low 20s rather than the 30s like other areas.
Thursday night into Friday morning severe thunderstorms looks set to develop across England, Wales and Scotland.
Ireland Temperatures are into the low 20s with the Atlantic keeping things much cooler here.
Kenneth from the Donegal Weather Channel
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