Europe is bracing for another sweltering weekend as a ferocious heatwave intensifies across the continent, with Germany and Poland facing potentially record-breaking temperatures of up to 40C on both Saturday and Sunday.
The extreme conditions have already claimed attention from sports organisers, with the Austrian Grand Prix issuing a rare 'heat hazard' warning ahead of this weekend's event in Spielberg. Temperatures are expected to soar into the low 30s Celsius during the racing – nearly 10C higher than normal for this time of year.
But it's not just heat that's causing concern – severe thunderstorms have been wreaking havoc across Europe, including a powerful tornado that tore through Russia's Sverdlovsk region on June 22. The twister, rated 3 out of 5 on the international Fujita scale, injured 16 people and damaged or destroyed around 100 homes and businesses in Kushva. Forecasters warn that such events could become more common as climate patterns shift.
Meanwhile, China has been grappling with extreme rainfall and thunderstorms, including a torrential downpour in Zengcheng near Guangzhou on Thursday evening that saw over 100mm of rain fall within just three hours. The China Meteorological Administration issued immediate warnings, highlighting the risk of flash flooding, mudslides, and rockfalls in both mountainous and urban areas.
In contrast, the UK can expect a relatively mild weekend, with temperatures ranging from the high teens to low twenties Celsius and scattered showers forecast by the Met Office. However, experts note that broader atmospheric patterns contributing to the European heatwave may still influence our own weather, bringing warmer air or affecting storm tracks.