Temperatures hit record highs for May in the United Kingdom and France on Monday, as forecasters warned of a prolonged period of extreme heat across Europe throughout the week.

A “heat dome” is forecast to linger across parts of Europe as the prospects of an El Nino continue to firm.

Highest temperatures will be confined to France Spain and Portugal later this week

Parts of Spain could also see the mercury climb to 40C by the end of the week

Extreme heat settles upon western Europe, with values in Spain set to reach 40 degrees

Heat dome over Europe scorches UK, Ireland, France and Spain

Western Europe reeled under an unseasonal heatwave on Tuesday as record-breaking temperatures swept across the continent.