More than 135 million people across Europe, predominantly in France, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom, are bracing for temperatures exceeding 35 degrees Celsius (95 Fahrenheit) as the continent's latest heatwave builds, according to German weather service forecasts and 2025 population projections from the European Commission's Joint Research Centre.

Nearly three in five Europeans, or about 340 million people, are expected to feel temperatures surpassing 30C (86F) on Thursday, aligning with separate tracking from Austria's Klimadashboard.

The UK and France are set to experience their fifth heatwave of the summer. Forecasters predict temperatures could reach 38C (100F) in central and southeast England, potentially marking the hottest day of the year, while France may see highs of 40C (104F).

The UK's highest temperature so far this year was recorded on June 26, when eastern England hit 38C. Britain's Met Office said earlier this week that only average conditions were needed for the rest of August to surpass last year's record for the hottest year ever.

The UK's Royal College of Nursing (RCN) said on Thursday that extreme heat is making parts of the National Health Service (NHS) an "impossible and inhumane" place to work and receive care. Calls to the RCN helpline report staff collapsing on shift, experiencing heat-related seizures, and pregnant nursing staff working in temperatures above 30C, with many lacking access to air conditioning, fans, or even adequate ventilation.

Both France and the UK, like much of Europe, are also facing widespread drought, as shrivelled crops and drained rivers strain water supplies for households, farms, and the environment. This has forced governments to seek both short and long-term fixes to mitigate the effects of what is widely seen as human-caused climate change.

Source: www.aljazeera.com