British holidaymakers could face deadly 40-degree heatwave set to hit mainland Europe

Tourist cities such as Paris and Rome could reach 40 degrees as continental Europe braces itself for a potentially deadly heatwave.

France, Italy, Spain and Germany are likely to see some of the hottest weather on record, with forecasters predicting the temperature to beat records set in 2003 when nearly 15,000 people died.

The record temperature in France is currently 44.1 degrees, with Paris forecasted to reach around 35 degrees or more on Monday and climb further until the peak on Thursday and Friday this week.

The north of the country will be worst affected.

Temporary fountains

The French capital has put its ‘level three’ extreme heat plan into action, with level four - an option that has never been used - available if temperatures skyrocket well above predictions.

As part of the plan, 900 ‘cool places’ will be designated as areas that are cooler than the surrounding city streets.

These will include parks, air-conditioned public halls and areas with temporary fountains and mist machines.

There will also be 13 parks open at night for the public to cool down in.

Weather forecasters have warned that high humidity will make 40 degrees feel like 47 degrees in the capital.

The national record for temperatures in June in France is 41.5 degrees.

Germany, Italy and Spain also affected