A heatwave is coming to western Europe, and it is expected to bring very high temperatures by Wednesday, possibly higher than the record set in 1976.

France, Spain, and other European countries have issued red heat alerts because the heatwave is expected to get worse in the coming days.

More than half of France's areas are under a severe weather warning. Sadly, two young children were found dead in a car in France, and this might be related to the hot weather. The UK government is warning people about the heat.

The UK government's website has information about how to prepare for and deal with extreme weather. It says that France can have very high temperatures in the summer, and people should check the weather forecast and learn how to protect themselves.

The UK government also warns about extreme weather in Spain, saying that people should follow the Spanish weather service for updates. Spain can have severe weather, especially in the summer.

For Portugal, the advice is to check the weather forecast and learn how to stay safe during the hot summer months. Portugal can also have very high temperatures in the summer.

In the UK, the Met Office has issued a red warning for extreme heat from Wednesday to Thursday. The temperature could reach a record high, similar to what was seen in July 2022.

A Met Office spokesperson said that the temperature could reach 39C on Thursday, possibly in London or the southeast. However, the actual temperature could be slightly different.

It's possible that the temperature could be higher than 39C if the conditions are right. The spokesperson also reminded people that the temperature is only one part of the story, and the high humidity will make the heat feel even worse.

The high humidity will make the heat feel even more intense for many people.

On Monday night, the temperature stayed above 20C in many parts of England, which is considered a tropical night. This led to thunderstorms and lightning strikes across England.

The Met Office reported that Somerset had around 18,540 lightning strikes in the past 24 hours.

The London Fire Brigade received many calls overnight, including two house fires that might have been caused by lightning. There was also flooding in some areas.

The London Fire Brigade warned that the risk of wildfires is high during this hot and dry period.

The fire service also warned that disposable barbecues can be a significant fire risk, even after they have been put out, and people should not take them to parks or open spaces.

On Monday, firefighters had to put out a blaze in an area of scrubland in north London.

The hot weather has caused problems with London's transport network, with flooding on the Elizabeth Line and disruptions on other lines.

There have been significant delays on some train lines, and the national rail network is expecting problems due to the high temperatures. People are advised to avoid traveling unless necessary and to take water with them.

One train company, Avanti West Coast, is running fewer services than usual and is warning of possible disruptions.

Another train company, Chiltern Railways, has canceled more than half of its trains to ensure safe operation.

The train operator is strongly advising people to avoid traveling if possible.

The RAC is dealing with more breakdowns than usual and expects the number to increase as the temperature rises.