Summer is at its peak in Europe: temperatures reached 38,6ºC at Coschen, near the border with Poland. In Germany, the asphalt from a road in the center of the country melted, leading authorities to reduce the speed limits. France suspended classes because the thermometers  hitted over 40ºC in some regions at the South. 

According to the atmosphere science teacher at Bristol University, Dann Mitchell, two factors are determinant for this heat wave: climate change, that alter the global temperatures and hot winds from Saara, with high pressure waves that blocked Europe’s atmosphere for several days, generating the mega heat wave. 

The severe dry conditions – air and soil – can also be responsible for the changes. 

Mitchell says that they are not uncommon, but are being amplified by the rise in temperatures and are likely to become more frequent.

Source: https://www.bbc.com/portuguese/internacional-48780106 and https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-48756480