Europe's heatwave: brief relief expected in coming days

EUROPE continued to bake in an intense heat wave and cooler conditions in the coming days may bring only short-lived relief.

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Health authorities in France and Germany issued red alerts as a lingering high-pressure system known as a heat dome keeps much of the continent in the grip of dangerously hot weather.

Daytime highs in central France may reach 39C (102F) Wednesday, according to forecaster Météo-France. That's down from a peak of 41.3C in Nimes on Tuesday, but still far above seasonal norms. The country has suffered searing heat since mid-June, and the top of the Eiffel Tower remains shut to visitors.

In Germany, the Upper Rhine Valley and the Kraichgau region could also reach 39C, according to forecaster Deutscher Wetterdienst. The extreme weather has triggered amber and yellow heat warnings across much of the rest of the continent.