PARIS — Europe, which is in the throes of a record-smashing heat wave this week, is the world's fastest-warming continent and stretches into an even more rapidly heating Arctic.

The UK and France have registered record May temperatures as western Europe swelters under a "heat dome." Such extremes are occurring more often as the planet warms.

Western Europe faced another day of record-breaking temperatures Tuesday as a heatwave pushed the mercury well above normal levels for May.

Europe sizzles as record-breaking May heatwave scorches continent-