Weather tracker: Saharan heat to send temperatures soaring across Europe

A mass of hot air originating from the Sahara Desert has settled over the Iberian Peninsula and is spreading into southern and western France, leading to a significant heatwave across Europe this week. Temperatures are widely expected to reach the low to mid-30s Celsius in affected regions. This build-up of heatwave conditions is impacting large swathes of the continent. Concurrently, parts of Australia are experiencing a mild start to their winter season. The weather patterns indicate a stark contrast between the extreme heat in Europe and the unseasonably mild conditions in Australia.