Image source, Reuters

More now on the wildfires in Greece. Villagers are being ordered to leave their homes in Kouvaras, south-east of Athens, as wildfires fanned by strong winds bear down on them.

People are leaving the village with their animals - in one case, stable owners had to move their horses to safety.

Journalist Daphne Tolis, who is in Athens, says the fire started at midnight local time and spread to other areas by the Greek coast. She estimates the blaze is currently affecting an area popular with tourists and where around 17,000 residents live.

"There are no indications that people are trapped at the moment," she says. "The coastguard has told boats to remain in the sea in case an evacutation by sea is required."

Image source, Reuters

Image source, EPA

Image source, Reuters

It could be a historically hot week for Phoenix, Arizona.

The city may tie its 18-day record on Monday for most consecutive days of high temperatures reaching above 110F (43C).

And that record may be surpassed altogether on Tuesday, with a forecasted high of 115F.

Phoenix is one of three cities across the US with a chief heat officer - David Hondula - who was appointed in 2021 to help residents mitigate the risk of high temperatures.

As part of a heat relief program run by Hondula, the city has been giving out water, cooling towels and hats to help residents cope.

There are also dozens of indoor respite centres where people can keep cool.

Only one, however, is open 24 hours a day, prompting criticism from some who are worried about the welfare of unhoused people and the elderly through the evening, when temperatures are still projected to be warm at 91F (32C).

Sofia Bettiza
reporting from Palermo

Image source, EPA

I’ve arrived today in Palermo on the island of Sicily.

This region is where, two years ago, the highest temperature in Europe was recorded - this could be exceeded in the coming days.

Today it is scorching hot and the air feels stifling and oppressive.

Palermo has been placed under a red alert warning, which means the heat poses a threat to everybody - not just to more vulnerable groups such as young children and the elderly.

Getting here was a struggle, as a fire broke out last night and led to one of the island's major airports, Catania, being shut down. It is still unclear whether the fire is linked to the heatwave.

But in the last few years, Sicily has seen wildfires in the hottest months - which have devastated several areas of the island. Last summer, 55,000 hectares of land were lost.

Countries across the world are experiencing record high temperatures.

The BBC's Tomasz Schafernaker has the global weather forecast for the days ahead, looking at the US, Europe and China.

Image source, EPA

Millions of people are grappling with extreme weather. Here's the latest:

• Heatwaves are sweeping across southern Europe, parts of the US and China - as well as extreme heat in Japan
• The heatwave affecting the Mediterranean could continue into August, according to the UN agency the World Meteorological Organization (WMO)

• Temperatures are in their 40s in parts of Europe and could rise further, with the hot weather set to peak on Wednesday
• Several wildfires have broken out in Greece, with children being evacuated from holiday camps and villagers fleeing. There have also been wildfires on the Spanish island of La Palma
• China reported its highest temperature ever on Sunday - 52.2C in Xinjiang, though the figure is provisional, the UK Met Office says
• Meanwhile, the south-west of the US is also experiencing extreme heat, with experts noting the length of the heatwave as well as its intensity
• El Paso, Texas has faced temperatures above 38C (100F) for 32 consecutive days - surpassing its previous record of 26 days

• Flooding has also hit parts of the US, while dozens of people have died in floods in South Korea
• The WMO said such extreme weather is an "increasingly frequent occurrence in our warming climate" and underlines the need to cut the greenhouse gas emissions that are causing climate change

As we've been reporting, a blistering heatwave has been intensifying across the Mediterranean over the last few days.

Various crews in Greece have been battling several wildfires in areas in the western and southern parts of the country including in Loutraki and Kouvaras.

The AFP news agency has reported that Greek firefighters say a man has been arrested on suspicion of starting a wildfire.

Fire service spokesman Yannis Artopios said police had "carried out the arrest of a foreigner who allegedly caused the fire" in Kouvaras.

Guy De Launey
BBC Balkans correspondent, reporting from Ljubljana

Ljubljana's old town is sweltering - and while not exactly deserted, the Slovenian capital is certainly far quieter than normal for a summer season.

The cocktail hour has arrived. But with temperatures pushing into the mid-30s in the shade, there is little of the usual competition for a table. Sunny seats have no takers at all. And even shady tables are being spurned by tourists and locals alike. Most people seem to be heeding the official advice to stay indoors.

Some holidaymakers whose skin bears the signs of underestimating the strength of the sun gratefully splash themselves with water from the Neptune fountain on the riverside. Nearby, in the much cooler Congress Square, a gaggle of visitors queue to refill their water bottles from one of Ljubljana's extensive collection of public drinking fountains.

"It's not so bad for us," says Alba, as she tops up her flask. "We're from Madrid. But this heat is difficult for people from further north."

It's not so easy for Ljubljana locals either. An orange weather warning is in place for Tuesday - not just because of temperatures which are expected to reach 37C, but for the storms which are forecast to follow.

Franz Strasser
Reporting from Washington DC

Experts here in the US say a major concern in this heatwave is the fact that it doesn't cool down at night.

In the US state of Arizona, the lowest temperatures reached during the month of July have been increasing in recent years.

In July 2022, the lowest average daily temperature was 20.3C (68.6F). Only two years since 1990 have seen a higher figure, 2006 and 2021.

The mean July temperature during the last century in Arizona at night was 18.5C (65.6F). During this current heatwave, it's predicted that the thermostat won't go below 32C (89.6F).

Image source, .

Image source, .

What do you want to know about these heatwaves? We'll be putting your questions to experts in our coverage this week, so let us know what you're wondering or worrying about.

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• Email: yourquestions@bbc.co.uk, external
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In some cases a selection of your comments and questions will be published, displaying your name and location as you provide it unless you state otherwise. Your contact details will never be published.

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Both the US and China are among the places currently affected by extreme heat.

The two nations are the world's largest greenhouse gas emitters, but talks on how to reduce emissions were halted by Beijing last year following former House of Representative Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan.

But we've just been hearing that John Kerry, US climate envoy and former secretary of state, is visiting in Beijing to renew official discussions, though informal talks took place at the COP27 summit in Egypt.

In a tweet, external after meeting his Chinese counterpart Xie Zhenhua, Kerry says the entire world is "living the reality of daily record-breaking heat". Beijing says that "climate change is a common challenge faced by all mankind".

Image source, Reuters

We're receiving reports of a second wildfire in southern Greece, near the seaside resort of Loutraki which is located 81 kilometres (50 miles) west of Athens

The town's mayor Giorgos Gkionis said 1,200 children have been evacuated from holiday camps.

He told told Greek television channel Skai the wildfires have been whipped up by strong winds.

The soaring temperatures we’re seeing around the world coincide with the start of El Niño, a natural weather phenomenon in the Pacific Ocean. (More here on what El Niño is).

But what’s the connection between El Niño and global warming?

Meteorologist Tom Di Liberto told The Climate Question podcast that climate change was making the usual impacts of El Niño even worse.

So, he said, parts of the globe expecting heavy rainfall would get even wetter; while those predicted to face drier conditions were now at a greater risk of drought.

And he warned that this year’s combination of El Niño and climate change was a glimpse of what the world might look like if it fails to meet the international target of limiting global warming to 1.5C above pre-industrial levels. Researchers say there's a 66% chance we will pass that threshold between now and 2027.

“It might be able to give us a snapshot into some sort of extremes that might become much more common or more normal as we continue to warm our planet,” he said.

For a briefing on El Niño, and the link with climate change, you can listen here to this week's edition of The Climate Question.

Image source, Reuters

Some fresh comments to bring you now from the World Meteorological Organization, external - which is a specialised agency of the United Nations.

It warns the heatwave affecting the Mediterranean is forecast to intensify by the middle of this week (Wednesday 19 July) and is likely to continue into next month in some parts of Europe. North Africa is also seeing high temperatures - with up to 49C forecast in Morocco.

New records have already been set for specific weather stations in parts of the northern hemisphere and new national records may also be set, the WMO's website says.

It adds: "A further continuation into August is likely."

Image source, Reuters

A period of intense heat is sweeping southern Europe. BBC Weather says this heatwave will intensify over the next couple of days, with temperatures peaking on Wednesday.

• South Sardinia could see temperatures of 46C (114.8F), though most temperatures on the island will not reach those heights
• Mainland Italy is forecast highs of 43C (109.4F) in the south
• The south of Spain could also see highs of 46C (114.8F), while southern France will peak at 40C (104F), according to the latest forecast

There are also extreme heat warnings for the south-west of the US, with temperature records possibly being broken in 38 cities.

• Temperatures reached 116F(46.6C) in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Sunday, according to the National Weather Service and could reach upwards of 113F (45C) later this week
• In Phoenix, Arizona, the NWS said there were highs of 115F (46.1C) on Sunday with potential record highs of 117F (47.2C) this week

Image source, EPA

Let's have a closer look at some of the extreme weather which has gripped parts of eastern Asia - and it is not just the provisional unprecedented temperature recorded in China that we mentioned earlier.

Authorities in Japan have issued heat stroke alerts for millions of people as the capital Tokyo recorded temperatures of nearly 40C.

At least 60 people in Japan have been treated for heat stroke, according to local media reports.

Japan's highest temperature ever - 41.1C first recorded in Kumagaya city in 2018 - could be beaten, according to the meteorological agency.

Elsewhere, South Korea's president says the country's approach to dealing with extreme weather needs a "complete overhaul".

Yoon Suk Yeol spoke after a disaster response meeting called following a weekend of torrential rain which has killed nearly 40 people.

• You can read more about the latest situation in South Korea as emergency teams continue to search for victims.

Justin Rowlatt
Climate editor

In many parts of the world, including Europe, it is hot. Very hot.

The European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts said that globally, June was the hottest on record.

And the heat has not eased. The three hottest days ever recorded were earlier this month, according to the EU climate and weather service, Copernicus.

The average world temperature hit 16.89C on Monday 3 July and topped 17C for the first time on 4 July, with an average global temperature of 17.04C.

Provisional figures suggest that was exceeded on 5 July when temperatures reached 17.05C. These highs are in line with what climate models predicted, says Prof Richard Betts, climate scientist at the Met Office and University of Exeter.

"We should not be at all surprised with the high global temperatures," he says.

"This is all a stark reminder of what we've known for a long time, and we will see ever more extremes until we stop building up more greenhouse gases in the atmosphere." Read more here

Image source, .

Guy Hedgecoe
Reporting from Madrid

Image source, Reuters

As the heat continues to increase into the afternoon, many streets in and around Madrid are becoming much quieter than normal.

Madrid's city hall has suspended street cleaning services in the capital between 14:00 and 17:00, in accordance with the protocol for high temperature alerts. It has also taken off the streets, temporarily, street cleaning vehicles that do not have air conditioning.

Meanwhile, the local authorities are providing refuge to homeless people, in shelters normally exclusively for the use of women who are the victims of gender-based violence.

Madrid is forecast to see temperatures of up to 41C, five degrees more than on Sunday.

BBC Weather

Image source, .

Heat continues to build in Europe, with temperatures higher than they were last week.

In Italy we could see a new temperature record set in Rome over the next day or so. But, the highest temperatures will be in Sardinia where they could peak around 46C inland towards the south of the island.

By the end of the week, temperatures will rise well into the 40s for Greece.

Guy De Launey
BBC Balkans Correspondent

Image source, EPA

Weather alerts are in place around the Western Balkans, with temperatures set to rise beyond 40C.

Authorities in Serbia have placed the entire country on the highest level of alert due to the heat. In the capital, Belgrade, an emergency services doctor said she and her colleagues had “performed 45 interventions” by 10am this morning.

Emergency calls are only likely to increase as temperatures in Belgrade rise during the day, to a peak of 39C. Dr Ivana Stefanovic called on people to “behave sensibly” and stay indoors.

Even people cooling off in Belgrade’s plethora of outdoor swimming pools are being warned to take care. Health authorities warn that plunging into cool water when overheated is unwise, as are poolside alcoholic drinks.

The government in neighbouring North Macedonia has put emergency measures in place for the next seven days. Vulnerable people – including pregnant women and the over-60s – will be excused from travelling to work. The authorities are also calling for people who work outdoors to finish for the day by 11am.

Access to national parks is also being restricted – with forested areas completely closed due to the fear of wildfires.

Croatia has already experienced several fires which have required the intervention of firefighting aircraft. An orange alert applies to much of the country – with a red alert for Split on Tuesday.

Temperatures in the country’s second city – also a popular spot for holidays on the Dalmatian Coast – are due to pass 40C. The heatwave is due to last until Wednesday.

Image source, EPA

Some news just reaching us of a wildfire breaking out in southern Greece.

Footage on social media appears to show flames burning close to buildings in the village of Kouvaras - which is about 27km (17 miles) from Athens.

Up to 150 firemen, 40 fire engines and 11 aircraft are attempting to control the flames amid gale-force winds, according to the Greek civil service.

"It's a difficult fire, the winds are really strong" with gusts reaching up to 60km/h (37mph, firefighter spokesman Yannis Artopios said.