Authorities in Britain and France warned that “unprecedented” temperatures — at a time when few expected them — could persist. Climate change has made heat waves more frequent and more intense.

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

Climate change is causing earlier and more intense heatwaves, France’s weather agency said.

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