Some parts of Western Europe were starting to cool off as the extreme heat that has gripped the continent moved east.

A record-breaking heat wave in Europe has forced the shutdown of at least three nuclear reactors due to rising river temperatures used for cooling. One reactor at France’s Golfech Nuclear Power Plant was shut down after forecasts showed the Garonne River could exceed 28°C (82°F).

A marine heat wave in the Mediterranean is combining with a powerful heat dome to cause Europe to swelter under a brutal early summer heat wave.

Europe’s heat wave is set to peak over the coming days, with a blast of Saharan air triggering red alerts from France to the Swiss Alps.

Heat wave blisters Europe: ... France issued a red alert on July 1 and warned of potentially severe health impacts as temperatures across the country climbed to between 100 and 104 degrees ...

Paris extended a red alert for high temperatures on Tuesday, with the top of the Eiffel Tower shut, polluting traffic banned and speed restrictions in place as a searing heat wave grips Europe.

Europe is currently experiencing its first major heatwave of the summer, with cities including Paris, Rome, The Hague, and Barcelona facing temperatures well above the seasonal average. Following a notably dry spring,

Water temperatures have surged above 85 degrees in the Mediterranean Sea, where records have been broken every day for weeks.