Extreme heat conditions are continuing to affect people across the globe today, and millions of people in southern Europe are dealing with another day of sweltering temperatures.

Here's a recap of what is happening if you're just joining us:

• Temperatures are already in their mid to high 20s in parts of southern Europe this morning
• The Italian island of Sardinia is expected to see the peak of the heat today with a high of 46C (114.8F) this afternoon
• The mercury in Spain nearly hit 45C (113F) on Monday - Andujar and Jaen in Spain's southern Andalusia region hit 44.8C and 44.7C respectively
• Wildfires are raging in parts of Europe, including the Spanish island of La Palma, mainland Greece and overnight in the Swiss alps. Thousands of people have been evacuated
• There have been reports of power cuts in some areas as demand surges because of air conditioners
• Meanwhile, the World Meteorological Agency has officially verified a new record temperature in Europe of 48.8C (119.8F) set in Sicily during a heatwave in August 2021
• Away from Europe, the temperature recorded at a weather station in Death Valley, in the US state of California, at midnight local time (07:00 GMT) hit 49C (120.2F) - potentially a new record for a midnight temperature

Kostas Koukoumakas
Reporting from Athens

Image source, Reuters

Temperatures in Greece are set to climb as high as 41C (105.8F) today in Greece – and the heatwave and bone-dry conditions have turned forests into a tinderbox.

Residents in the capital, Athens, woke up today to learn that three fires were burning for the second day near the city.

The National Observatory of Athens has issued the highest wildfire risk alert on the scale – Level 4.

The biggest blaze appears to be in Dervenohoria, some 45km northwest of Athens, though the fires in the East Attica seaside resort of Saronida and outside Loutraki in Corinth are also active.

The sound of firefighting planes and helicopters operating on the fronts of the fire can be heard over our heads. Traffic is moving normally on most of the road network, except in the areas near the fronts.

Houses and properties are burning, domestic animals have been killed by the flames or fumes, but no serious human injuries have been reported so far. Three volunteer firefighters had to be treated in hospital in Saronida after sustaining eye injuries, local media report.

Security authorities are ordering the evacuation of residential areas, and this is causing tensions with residents who do not want to leave their possessions behind.

Simon King
BBC weather presenter and meteorologist

While the heatwave across southern Europe continues, on Monday, the World Meteorological Agency (WMO) verified a new record, external temperature for Europe of 48.8C (119.8F) set in Sicily during a heatwave in August 2021.

The WMO is the recognised authority for verifying and keeping weather records.

Why does it take so long to verify? If a record is provisionally broken, the recording equipment is sent to independent laboratories to check accuracy.

Once this is done, a committee meets to analyse all available data before it can officially verify the record.

The WMO is monitoring the current heatwaves across the northern hemisphere for potential new records.

Jenny Hill
Reporting from Berlin

Doctors in Germany have suggested that people consider taking a siesta during the hot weather.

"When it's hot, we should be guided by the way southern countries work; getting up early, working productively in the morning and taking a siesta at noon is a concept we should adopt in the summer months," said Johannes Niessen, who chairs the Federal Association of Public Health Doctors.

Temperatures in Germany have cooled somewhat after peaking over the weekend but it remains very warm. Most parts of the country expect between 25-30C (77-86F) today.

Image source, .

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Image source, Reuters

Firefighters are still battling a wildfire in the Swiss Alps, raging in the Haute-Valais area near the Italian border since yesterday evening.

Nearly 200 people and several helicopters were involved in trying to damp down the wildfire, after the blaze spread rapidly overnight on the mountainside in Bitsch.

Local police shared photographs of the huge inferno ripping through the countryside in the early hours, but the fire appears to have calmed down as of this morning

However, large smoke clouds can still be seen billowing from the forests and authorities have warned it could take days, or even weeks, to fully extinguish.

Many local residents have been evacuated, while those who are still at home have been advised to keep their windows closed to prevent pollution from getting inside.

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Reuters

Simon King
BBC weather presenter and meteorologist

There was little relief overnight across southern Europe and as the new day starts on Tuesday, temperatures are already widely in the mid to high 20s.

Sardinia is expected to see the peak of the heat today in southern Europe with a high of 46C (114.8F) expected this afternoon.

Meanwhile, in the US, at midnight last night the temperature at a weather station in Death Valley, California was still 49C (120.2F) - reported by some as provisionally a new record for a midnight temperature.

Justin Rowlatt
BBC Climate editor, reporting from Alicante

The heat during these European heatwaves has been relentless, continuing day and night.

To give you an example, when I went to bed just after midnight yesterday it was 30C (86F) in Alicante on the south coast of Spain.

When I got up at 6:30am today to do my first broadcasts it was 27C (80.6F).

It means there is no respite from the heat, and that helps explain why these periods of extreme heat can impose such a burden on people's health.

It also explains why it has been reported that there have been power cuts in parts of Europe as air conditioning systems are switched to full power.

Tourism bodies and experts are predicting that soaring summer temperatures in southern Europe could prompt a lasting shift in tourist habits.

Data from the European Travel Commission (ETC) shows the number of people hoping to travel to the Mediterranean region between the months of June to November has already fallen 10% compared to last year, when scorching weather led to droughts and wildfires.

7.6% of travellers now see extreme weather events as a major concern for trips between June and November, according to a report from the trade body.

"We anticipate that unpredictable weather conditions in the future will have a greater impact on travellers' choices in Europe," said Miguel Sanz, the head of the ETC.

Italy's Environment Ministry has also warned earlier this year that travellers could opt for cooler destinations for their future summer holidays, or choose to travel to the country in the spring or autumn months instead to avoid the extreme heat.

Scorching temperatures in southern Europe peaked in southern Spain on Monday, with extreme heat waves hitting nearly 45C.

Provisional temperatures hit 44.8C in Andujar and 44.7C in nearby Jaen, both in Spain's southern Andalusia region.

Many other places around Europe exceeded 40C as well, including thermometers hitting 43C in Italy's islands of Sardinia and Sicily.

Some places could get even hotter over the next few days, with very warm nights offering little relief.

Image source, EPA

A heatwave is continuing across southern Europe, with temperatures in the central Mediterranean expected to peak today.

The Italian island of Sardinia is expected to see a high of 46C this afternoon, and there are warnings extreme heat could continue for a further 10 days in parts of Italy. In the capital, Rome, temperatures could remain above 40C for 15 days.

Spain has also faced consecutive heatwaves, with temperatures yesterday reaching 44C in the south of the country.

There have been wildfires on the Spanish island of La Palma and in mainland Greece, and there have also been reports of power cuts in some areas as demand surges because of air conditioners.

Many countries in the northern hemisphere have hit record-breaking temperatures, amid an abnormally hot summer season.

In Asia, local media reported that at least 60 people in Japan were treated for heatstroke, with a majority sent to hospital. Parts of China are also experiencing record heat, including in the Xinjiang region.

North America and Europe have not been spared either. Temperatures are expected to peak in Europe this week, while the heatwave in North America is forecast to extend into next week.

Here's a rundown of what has happened so far:

• The temperature in the Italian islands of Sicily and Sardinia is expected to hit a high of 48C (118F), according to the European Space Agency

• In Cyprus, the temperature is expected to remain above 40C through the week. It has already killed a 90-year-old man, and hospitalised three other seniors
• A forest fire has broken out by a popular beach town near Athens, threatening nearby holiday camps for children.
• In Phoenix, Arizona, temperature stayed above 43C for 17 straight days last week
• California's Death Valley, among one of the hottest places in the world, reached 52C on the weekend

Image source, EPA

A very good day to you. It's 1pm in Singapore, 7am in Paris and 6am in London.

Here in our part of the world, various parts of Asia have been hit by both storms and heatwaves, even as Europe and North America are reeling from extreme heat.

Some 260,000 people have been evacuated, as typhoon Talim lashes southern China and prepares to make landfall in Vietnam. In South Korea, 41 people across the country have died due to floods and landslides, while nine others remain missing.

Over in Japan, at least 60 people have been treated for heatstroke, with heatstroke alerts issued in 32 out of the country's 47 prefectures.

Meanwhile in western and southern US states, more than 80 million people were under advisories as a "widespread and oppressive" heatwave hit the region.

A heatwave is also continuing across southern Europe, with temperatures in the central Mediterranean expected to peak today.

Forecasters say the Italian island of Sardinia could reach 46C (115F). There are warnings that the extreme heat could continue for a further ten days in Italy. Hot weather alerts are also in place across most of Spain. There have been reports of power cuts in some areas as demand surges because of air conditioners.

We'll continue to bring you coverage of the extreme weather conditions that are assailing the northern hemisphere.

Typhoon Talim washed a whale ashore after the storm tore through the southern coast of China.

A video circulating on Chinese social media, external shows passers-by crowding around the displaced sea mammal in the dark.

The first moments from when the storm made landfall can also be seen, with violent winds sending people running for cover. Many are unable to stand still.

Even as torrential rain, brought on by typhoon Talim, batters the southern coast of China, a heatwave is blanketing some areas in the country's north.

On the weekend, China provisionally recorded its highest temperature ever on at more than 52C (125.6F) in Xinjiang, according to the UK Met Office.

Beijing recorded its hottest June day in more than 60 years, with the mercury touching 41.1C (105.9F).

Over in Japan, Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea on Monday temporarily halted some outdoor events and shows on account of the blistering heat.

Authorities have issued heatstroke warnings, as temperatures in many places - including Tokyo - rose to nearly 40C (104F).

In the past few days torrential rain has submerged parts of South Korea including the mountainous region of Chongju, where a tunnel was flooded, trapping many motorists.

Fourteen have died in the tunnel disaster, with rescuers pulling out the last body on Tuesday morning, AFP news agency reports.

The interior ministry now says 41 people across the country have died due to floods and landslides, while nine others remain missing.

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has promised an overhaul of the country's approach to extreme weather in the aftermath of the horrific floods.

You can read more about the floods here.

Image source, Getty Images

Nearly 230,000 people in China's Guangdong province have been evacuated as typhoon Talim made landfall at 10:20 local time (14:20 GMT).

Storm surges lashed the coast, while fierce winds and rain led to hundreds of flights and trains being cancelled.

Vietnam said it was evacuating around 30,000 people in areas forecast to be hardest hit, as the storm cut through the southern coast of China.

Talim - which means a blade or knife in Filipino - is the fourth typhoon this year.

You can read more about the storm and evacuation efforts here.

Bernd Debusmann Jr
Reporting from Washington DC

Jan Wichayanuparp, co-founder of Sweet Republic, an artisanal ice cream chain with outlets in Phoenix, Tempe and Scottsdale, Arizona, said sales had dipped slightly as a result of the heat - rather than going up as a result of potential customers in need of a cold snack.

“I wish it had gone up, but actually it went down a little, although not too hard,” she told the BBC late last week.

“We’re ice cream - but we’re ice cream in shops. We rely on people coming in, but it’s been so hot that people don’t want to go out.”

Ms Wichayanuparp - whose company sources all its milk and other ingredients locally in Arizona - said that any concern about heat-related price spikes was offset, thankfully, by the fact that schools were out for the summer and demand for milk had gone down.

“It kind of evens out,” she added.

Justin Rowlatt
Climate editor

When we think about how hot it is, we tend to think about the air temperature, because that's what we experience in our daily lives.

But most of the heat stored near the surface of the Earth is not in the atmosphere, but in the oceans. And we've been seeing some record ocean temperatures this spring and summer.

The North Atlantic, for example, is currently experiencing the highest surface water temperatures ever recorded.

That marine heatwave has been particularly pronounced around the coasts of the UK, where some areas have experienced temperatures as much as 5C above what you would normally expect for this time of year.

At the same time, an El Niño is developing in the tropical Pacific.

With both the Atlantic and the Pacific experiencing heatwaves, it is perhaps not surprising that global sea surface temperatures for both April and May were the highest ever recorded in Met Office data that goes all the way back to 1850.

• Read more here

Image source, .

• Europe: The peak of the heat is likely to hit the central Mediterranean on Tuesday, possibly reaching 46C (114.8F) in Sardinia. The World Meteorological Organization says the heatwave is likely to continue into August.
• North America: An extremely dangerous heatwave will continue in the Southwest well into next week. Threatening heat is expected across the Southwest until at least 28 July, according to the National Weather Service.
• China: Temperatures in Beijing are forecast as being in the high 30s (100F) until the start of the weekend, when rain could provide a respite from the heat.

Image source, EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock