Southern Europe broils as Dutch celebrate belated summer conditions

Temperatures breached 40 degrees Celsius in parts of southern Europe on Saturday, as the Netherlands celebrated the arrival of summer conditions after months of record rainfall.

Hot air from Africa has brought scorching heat to southern Spain, with the Andalusian city of Seville recording over 40 degrees on Friday according to the national weather service (AEMET).

The air was similarly hot and oppressive in the north-eastern city of Zaragoza, which AEMET warned could see temperatures reach 44 degrees on Saturday.

In Italy, meanwhile, the Health Ministry issued its highest heat warning level for 11 major cities on Saturday, down from 17 on Friday.

A high-pressure system has been bringing searing heat to the country for several days, with high humidity adding to the difficulties.

Further east in Greece, many regions have been affected by heat and wildfires.

The capital Athens has seen temperatures remain above 30 degrees for the last 10 days and nights. The constant heat can be exhausting for the human body.

Not every country was groaning under the heat on Saturday, however.

In the Netherlands, a three-day heatwave has brought much-needed warmth and sunshine after record rainfall in recent months.

The national weather service said the country has experienced "a very wet spring, and before that, winter and autumn."

The 12 months from June 2023 to 2024 were in fact the wettest one-year period ever recorded in the Netherlands.

The warmer temperatures are not set to last, however, with forecasters predicting a return to cool conditions on Sunday.