Continental Europe has had blistering heat over the past week, with Spain and Portugal becoming particularly hot. Of Spain’s 50 provinces 43 were put on alert for exceptionally high temperatures, with the mercury widely topping 40C (104F), and some places experiencing temperatures as high as 44C.

The intense heat has also increased the potential for forest fires; woodlands, within a large area, are considered at extreme risk of catching alight. The heat-wave is expected to spread and persist for much of Europe over the coming days.

Meanwhile, in the US mid-west heavy rains have exacerbated already serious floods. Numerous states have been affected, and are expecting further rain.

The city of St Louis, in Missouri, had more than 33cm (13in) of rain in June, 22cm more than the monthly average.

Indiana, in the Great Lakes region, has also been hit hard, with $300m worth of crop damage having already occurred before another deluge of rain happened over the weekend.

Finally, the north American storm season is beginning to draw to a close but you would not have thought that was the case in parts of Canada on Saturday. The province of Manitoba had severe thunderstorms developing during the afternoon, with a particularly potent cell striking the town of Roseisle, about 70 miles south-west of Winnipeg.

Hail stones in Roseisle were reported to be measuring up to the size of tennis balls, and they damaged cars and destroyed crops. These hail stones were driven in on a 60mph wind, worsening the potential for damage.

• This article was amended on 2 July 2015. An earlier version referred to the state, rather than province, of Manitoba.

