Heat is one of the clearest signs of the climate crisis. The planet-heating gases pumped out by burning fossil fuels envelop the planet like a blanket, warming the Earth. Scientists are clear that climate change is fueling more extreme heat waves — and Europe is the planet’s fastest-warming continent.

“We know beyond a shadow of a doubt that heat wave events such as this have been made more likely and more severe due to climate change,” said Peter Thorne, director of ICARUS Climate Research Centre at Maynooth University, Ireland. “But nevertheless many of the records being set, particularly in the UK and France, are mind-bogglingly crazy,” he added.