Europe heatwave: British tourists warned as hotspot faces scorching 40C+ temperatures

As Europe experiences an intense heatwave, British tourists heading to France are being cautioned about soaring temperatures expected to exceed 40C in several regions.

The southern half of France is particularly affected, with a further 26 departments placed under an orange heatwave alert by Météo-France as of midday on Monday, adding to the 13 departments already placed under orange vigilance since midday Sunday.

The extreme heat is expected to reach the northern parts of the country by Tuesday, impacting areas around the Olympic venues in the Île-de-France region.

According to Météo-France, the south of Toulouse, the hinterland of the Gard and Hérault regions, and the inland area of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region are likely to see temperatures surpass the 40-degree mark during this first significant heatwave of the year. In the Toulouse region, temperatures are forecast to reach between 38 and 40C, with some areas potentially hitting 41C.

Temperatures are expected to hit 40C in several other areas of southern and southwestern France, including the inland regions of Gironde, Landes, Lot-et-Garonne, Dordogne and Charentes.

The Pyrenean foothills and Aveyron will experience slightly lower temperatures, ranging from 34 to 37C.

Southern France will also see extreme heat, with temperatures expected to rise to 37-39C, and locally up to 40C in some parts.

The Rhône Valley will have mild overnight temperatures between 20 and 23C, while the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence will see temperatures rise to between 36 and 39C.

In Corsica, temperatures are expected to range from 32 to 36C, with local peaks of 37-38C.

In Bordeaux, the city's Lac beach was inundated with visitors seeking relief from the already sweltering heat on Sunday afternoon.

The town hall swiftly implemented safety measures to protect the public. Bordeaux is scheduled to host matches for the men's and women's Olympic football tournaments, though no games are set for Monday.

Marseille, hosting sailing events, also faced sweltering conditions on Sunday. The Olympic marina saw very hot and humid weather with minimal wind, making it difficult for participants to cool down.

In the Paris region, where most Olympic events are taking place, the heat is anticipated to peak on Tuesday, with maximum temperatures hovering around 34-35C.

Tristan Amm, a forecaster with Météo-France, emphasised the severity of the situation on Sunday.

The Olympic Village, home to over 10,000 athletes, has been designed without air conditioning to minimise environmental impact.

The buildings are equipped with geothermal cooling systems and fans, promising a temperature difference of -6C compared to the outside.

However, this has not entirely alleviated concerns among the teams. In early July, the delegations ordered nearly 2,500 air-conditioning units for a total of 7,000 rooms to ensure athletes could rest comfortably, according to Augustin Tran Van Chau, deputy director of the village.

This intense heat is predicted to persist at least until Thursday.

British tourists planning to visit France during this period are advised to take necessary precautions to stay safe.

This includes staying hydrated, avoiding outdoor activities during peak heat hours, and seeking air-conditioned environments whenever possible.

Travellers should also keep abreast of local weather forecasts and heed any advisories issued by authorities.