Paris facing severe weather risk as heat wave wanes

After a week of scorching heat that brought record-challenging temperatures across much of western and central Europe, severe thunderstorms will be a threat into Sunday night across far eastern France and southern and western Germany.

While many will be thankful the sizzling heat has subsided across western Europe, the storm system that is responsible for bringing relief from the heat sparked dangerous thunderstorms across France and southern Belgium on Saturday.

Strong-to-severe thunderstorms rolled through Reims, France on Saturday night causing damage to around 40 homes, several trees and flooding also happened.

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As storms ripped through parts of Spain on Thursday, one city was blanketed with a large accumulation of hail that made the streets look like a winter wonderland. There was so much hail that residents needed snow shovels to help clear it.

Later Sunday night and during the early hours of Monday, the threat for damaging thunderstorms is expected to lessen across far eastern France and into southern and western Germany.

Youths dive in the Canal de l'Ourcq Wednesday, June 16, 2021, in Paris. Temperatures rose up to 33 degrees Celsius (91 degrees Fahrenheit) in the French capital. (AP Photo/Benjamin Girette)

The threat for severe thunderstorms comes amid a record-challenging heat wave that gripped western Europe earlier this week and will continue to bake parts of eastern Europe through early this week.

As an area of high pressure remains across eastern parts of the continent it will cause temperatures to climb about 10-20 degrees Fahrenheit (5-11 degrees Celsius) above normal.

"This heat wave will likely be record setting for locations that reach 90 F (32 C) since it is happening so early in the month. Previous heat waves have been recorded during late June," stated AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Tyler Roys.

In Warsaw, afternoon temperatures are forecast to trend higher through early this week and may reach 90 F (32 C), almost 20 degrees F (11 degrees C) above normal for mid-June.

Berlin may even set a record number of days above 90 degrees F (32 degrees C). After topping that benchmark on Thursday afternoon, temperatures are forecast to return to that level or higher through at least Sunday. Normal highs are in the low 70s F (22-23 C) this time of year.

The heat even extends into Scandinavia and northwestern Russia where high temperatures can exceed 86 F (30 C) for several days into early this week.

"If temperatures get as [high] as expected, records will be falling, especially near St. Petersburg," said Roys.

The heat wave could also threaten the highest temperature ever recorded during June in Finland, according to Mika Rantanen, a researcher at the Finnish Meteorological Institute. The current record stands at 92.8 F (33.8 C).

AccuWeather RealFeel® Temperatures will range from 95-105 F (35-41 C) across the regions impacted by the heat.

Persistent heat and a lack of air conditioning across the region can increase the risk for heat-related illnesses, especially for those that are sensitive to the heat or do not have access to air conditioning.

High temperatures and dry conditions across the region can lead to an increased fire risk, especially in areas that have been dry in recent weeks. Heat will also put a strain on power grids where businesses and homes run air conditioners to try to keep cool.

Temperatures across eastern Europe are expected to gradually trend lower during the middle and latter parts of this week.

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