Europe heatwave live: UK issues rare red temperature warnings; French PM to hold crisis meeting after heat deaths

Key events The heatwave affecting large parts of Europe is known as an Omega block because it takes the shape of the Greek letter, with a bulge of hot air in the middle and cooler air either side, an expert says. “It’s drawing warm air up from North Africa, from the Sahara, and that’s why we have this really intense heat,” said Clair Barnes , a climate scientist at Imperial College in London, quoted by Reuters. double quotation mark It’s very slow moving and it means there’s kind of no wind, ‌no breeze for respite. Heatwaves and storms were being intensified by climate change, pushing temperatures higher and causing more rainfall, she said. People crowd at La Concha Beach in San Sebastian, Spain. The country has had daytime highs of up to 42C and sweltering nights. Photograph: Javier Etxezarreta/EPA Share Updated at 06.33 BST Health warnings issued to English regions amid heat's 'risk to life' The UK Health Security Agency has issued a red health warning for six regions of England from 1am on Wednesday until 11pm on Thursday. This indicates “a risk to life for even the healthy population” as well as impacts beyond health and social care, with potential effects on transport systems, food, water, energy supplies and businesses. The six regions are the West Midlands, East Midlands, South East, South West, London and east of England. …