Mediterranean countries and central Europe have been in the grip of high temperatures again this week, with central and southern Spain reaching temperatures of nearly 40C on Sunday. In Bordeaux, France, temperatures climbed to 38C on Monday.
As the heat sweeps east, countries such as Bulgaria and Greece will reach the low- to mid-30s by the weekend, nearly 10C above the average daytime maxima for the time of year.
The heat will be short-lived this time, however, as the first chill of autumn is expected to arrive across Europe with high pressure making its way in from the Atlantic.
High pressure situated to the west of Europe will induce a northerly air flow, allowing colder polar air to surge south across the continent. Temperatures across France and the Iberian peninsula will fall to about the seasonal norm this week, while some areas will see daytime temperatures plummeting 8-10C below the average this weekend.
Trondheim in central Norway will struggle to reach double figures, with a high of 6C forecast for Sunday. Temperatures in parts of the Czech Republic and Austria are also likely to be about 8C below normal.
In the western Pacific, Typhoon Muifa has been advancing towards Japan’s Okinawa prefecture. Sustained winds of up to 97mph and gusts of up to 138mph were recorded on Sunday and Monday as the typhoon whipped through the Sakishima Islands.
The typhoon will slowly continue its north-westwards trajectory on Wednesday, bringing heavy rain and violent waves, before weakening by Thursday.
