France, May 27 -- The high-pressure system trapping warm air from northern Africa over western Europe has pushed temperatures to levels more commonly seen in midsummer. More intense heat is forecast in the coming days.

Europe has warmed around 2.4C above preindustrial levels, compared with around 1.4C globally, according to the European Union's Copernicus Climate Change Service.

Since 1996, the continent has been heating at a rate of 0.56C per decade, compared with 0.27C globally.

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High-pressure systems linked to heatwaves have become more common across Europe over recent decades.

"If you look over the last 20, 30 years, there has been a prevalence, especially ...