Holidaymakers are being warned about a "potentially dangerous" heatwave set to descend across much of continental Europe this week.
Popular destinations in places like Spain, France and especially Germany will see the mercury creeping up into the high 30s over the coming days.
The scorching temperatures are being blamed on "a storm stalling over the Atlantic Ocean and high pressure over central and eastern Europe", according to international weather site AccuWeather.
This in turn will cause very hot air to move northwards from the Sahara Desert, reports RSVPLive.
Cities including Berlin, Madrid and Brussels can expect daily temperatures near or above 32C for at least the next six days.
Emergency services have urged people to keep an eye on the elderly, young children and anyone with a weak immune system, who may find it difficult to cope as the mercury soars.
Authorities around Paris have issued an orange alert for intense heat, with highs of up to 40C predicted to hit on Thursday.
Volunteers are patrolling the streets providing water to homeless people and local authorities have organised air-conditioned places where people can cool down, including museums and churches.
Meanwhile in Germany, temperatures are expected to rise above 40C on Wednesday, beating national records, and could hit 42C in Spain.
Silvia Laplana, a meteorologist for Spanish broadcasters RTVE, declared "hell is coming".
Stefan Rahmstorf of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research has warned that heatwaves are becoming more frequent in Europe due to global warming.
He said: "Monthly heat records all over the globe occur five times as often today as they would in a stable climate.
"This increase in heat extremes is just as predicted by climate science as a consequence of global warming caused by the increasing greenhouse gases from burning coal, oil and gas."
A mini heatwave is also set to hit Ireland this week, with temperatures climbing as high as 28C.
"It looks set to turn exceptionally warm by Friday with spells of sunshine and just the odd thunderstorm," Met Eireann predicts.
