BERLIN: Authorities raised alerts on Wednesday as Europe’s record-breaking June heatwave threatened to intensify with temperatures heading into the 40s Celsius.

The choking heat has prompted traffic restrictions, sparked forest fires and fanned debate over public nudity as sweltering Germans stripped off.

But French winemakers said the hot weather was more than welcome as it could produce a superior vintage.

Meteorologists blamed a blast of hot air from northern Africa for the heatwave so early in the European summer.

They said it is likely to send thermometers above 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit) in France, Spain and Greece on Thursday and Friday.

Scientists warn that global warming linked to human fossil fuel use could make such scorchers more frequent.

“Global temperatures are increasing due to climate change,” said Len Shaffrey, professor of climate science at the University of Reading.

“The global rise in temperatures means the probability that an extreme heatwave will occur is also increasing.”

In Spain, the Aemet meteorological agency on Wednesday said there was a “significant risk” in five northern provinces with temperatures of 42 degrees Celsius expected.

“Hell is coming,” one Spanish TV weather presenter tweeted.

Published in Dawn, June 27th, 2019