A temperature of 42.6C has been recorded in Paris, the hottest in the city’s history.

Meteo France announced that the record had been broken at 1.36pm local time when temperatures surpassed the previous high of 40.7C, reaching the new record shortly after 4pm.

It is the second intense heatwave to hit France in less than a month. In late June the country experienced a record temperature of 46.1C in the south of France, however in terms of average temperature, the current heatwave is already hotter.

The extreme temperatures have been caused by a heatwave sweeping across Europe, affecting large parts of the continent.

In Germany, an all-time high was measured for a second day running, at 41.5C in the northwestern town of Lingen - similar temperatures to those in some Gulf Arab capitals on Thursday.

UK heatwave rolls in as temperatures soar Show all 44 1 /44 UK heatwave rolls in as temperatures soar UK heatwave rolls in as temperatures soar Bournemouth Hundreds of people at the beach in Bournemouth, as the UK could encounter the hottest July day on record PA UK heatwave rolls in as temperatures soar Manchester Hamza and Haris splash in the water feature beside the National Football Museum PA UK heatwave rolls in as temperatures soar Derbyshire People play in the water at Hathersage Outdoor Swimming Pool PA UK heatwave rolls in as temperatures soar Whitley Bay Sunrise at St Mary's Lighthouse PA UK heatwave rolls in as temperatures soar Margate Families fish for crabs from a sea wall Getty Images UK heatwave rolls in as temperatures soar Surrey People leap from a bridge at Taggs Island, near Hampton Court PA UK heatwave rolls in as temperatures soar London Ireland's players in a drinks break during the second day of the test match against England at Lord's AP UK heatwave rolls in as temperatures soar London People sunbathe in Hyde Park PA UK heatwave rolls in as temperatures soar Manchester People splash in the fountains in Piccadilly Gardens PA UK heatwave rolls in as temperatures soar Margate Families make their way to the beach Getty Images UK heatwave rolls in as temperatures soar Cambridge People use umbrellas to shield from the sun as they punt along on the River Cam PA UK heatwave rolls in as temperatures soar Brighton People enjoy the hot weather on the beach PA UK heatwave rolls in as temperatures soar London England's Jack Leach cools down with a towel in a drinks break AP UK heatwave rolls in as temperatures soar Margate MARGATE, - JULY 25: Beachgoers enjoy the sunshine on July 25, 2019 in Margate, United Kingdom. The Met Office issued a weather warning from 3pm this afternoon. They warn that Britain could face up to 13 hours of electrical storms after temperatures could reach a record-breaking 39C. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images) Dan Kitwood Getty Images UK heatwave rolls in as temperatures soar Northumberland Kadie Lane, 10, cools off in the fountain at Alnwick Gardens. The UK is bracing itself for what could be its hottest ever day after lightning storms triggered fires and rail disruption PA UK heatwave rolls in as temperatures soar Hampshire Lightening striking as a thunder storm passes over Basingstoke lanttans/PA UK heatwave rolls in as temperatures soar Northumberland Visitors sit in deckchairs in the sun at Alnwick Gardens PA UK heatwave rolls in as temperatures soar West Yorkshire Sisters, Nyam May (left) and Ciara May (right), jump into the water at Ilkley outdoor pool and lido PA UK heatwave rolls in as temperatures soar An African white lion sunbathes at West Midlands Safari Park PA UK heatwave rolls in as temperatures soar Liverpool Lightening strikes as a thunder storm passes over houses in Lee Park PA UK heatwave rolls in as temperatures soar Northumberland Children sit in the sun by 'The Friendly Giant', a pond sculpture situated in Alnwick Gardens PA UK heatwave rolls in as temperatures soar Northumberland Reuben Humphreys, 4 , cools off in the fountain at Alnwick Gardens PA UK heatwave rolls in as temperatures soar West Yorkshire Lightning strikes as a thunder storm passes over houses in Leeds, West Yorkshire. The UK is expected to edge towards its hottest ever July day, with the mercury due to soar above 30C (86F). PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Wednesday July 24, 2019. See PA story WEATHER Hot. Photo credit should read: Danny Lawson/PA Wire Danny Lawson PA UK heatwave rolls in as temperatures soar Pembrokeshire Holidaymakers shelter under umbrellas on the South Beach,Tenby Reuters UK heatwave rolls in as temperatures soar Lincolnshire A thunder storm passes over Holbeach St Marks wiker_1971/PA UK heatwave rolls in as temperatures soar Pembrokeshire Swimmers have fun in the sea on a giant inflatable Flamingo, South Beach Reuters UK heatwave rolls in as temperatures soar Folkestone Sunbathers relax PA UK heatwave rolls in as temperatures soar West Yorkshire Yasmin Amindari plays with ball at Ilkley outdoor pool and lido in West Yorkshire as the UK is expected to edge towards its hottest ever July day, with the mercury due to soar above 30C (86F). PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Tuesday July 23, 2019. See PA story WEATHER Hot. Photo credit should read: Danny Lawson/PA Wire Danny Lawson PA UK heatwave rolls in as temperatures soar Kent Broadstairs beach PA UK heatwave rolls in as temperatures soar Pembrokeshire South Beach,Tenby Reuters UK heatwave rolls in as temperatures soar Dog owners warned about heatstroke American Bulldog Finlay, receiving urgent cooling treatment at PDSA's Pet Hospital, after was left fighting for his life after his body temperature soared to a life-threatening 42.2C (108F) during recent hot weather PA UK heatwave rolls in as temperatures soar Folkestone A couple, seen through heat haze PA UK heatwave rolls in as temperatures soar Ilkley Freddie Ward jumps into the water at Ilkley outdoor pool and lido in West Yorkshire as the UK is expected to edge towards its hottest ever July day PA UK heatwave rolls in as temperatures soar Pembrokeshire North Beach,Tenby Reuters UK heatwave rolls in as temperatures soar Pembrokeshire A swimmer and paddlers are seen in the sea off South Beach,Tenby, Pembrokeshire, Wales, Britain, July 23, 2019. REUTERS/Rebecca Naden REBECCA NADEN REUTERS UK heatwave rolls in as temperatures soar Canterbury People enjoy punting through Westgate Gardens as temperatures rise across the UK this week PA UK heatwave rolls in as temperatures soar Pembrokeshire A sunbather lies on the South Beach,Tenby, Pembrokeshire, Wales, Britain, July 23, 2019. REUTERS/Rebecca Naden REBECCA NADEN REUTERS UK heatwave rolls in as temperatures soar Ilkley People play in the water at Ilkley outdoor pool and lido PA UK heatwave rolls in as temperatures soar Canterbury Isla Stanton enjoys the sunshine in Westgate Gardens PA UK heatwave rolls in as temperatures soar Pembrokeshire Holidaymakers are seen in the sea on the South Beach,Tenby, Pembrokeshire, Wales, Britain, July 23, 2019. REUTERS/Rebecca Naden REBECCA NADEN REUTERS UK heatwave rolls in as temperatures soar Oxford A lady takes a photograph in Oxford, as the UK is expected to edge towards its hottest ever July day, with the mercury due to soar above 30C (86F). PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Tuesday July 23, 2019. See PA story WEATHER Hot. Photo credit should read: Steve Parsons/PA Wire Steve Parsons PA UK heatwave rolls in as temperatures soar Pembrokeshire A "Keep Calm" towel is pictured on the South Beach,Tenby, Pembrokeshire, Wales, Britain, July 23, 2019. REUTERS/Rebecca Naden REBECCA NADEN REUTERS UK heatwave rolls in as temperatures soar Warwickshire People enjoy a trip in a boat along the river in Stratford Upon Avon PA UK heatwave rolls in as temperatures soar Stratford Upon Avon People enjoy the sun along the river in Stratford Upon Avon, Warwickshire, as temperatures are expected to rise across the UK this week. Jacob King PA

Meanwhile in the Netherlands the temperature peaked at 40.4C, topping 40C for the first time on record, according to Dutch meteorology institute KNMI - breaking the national record of 39.3C set the previous day. Before this week, the national heat record of 38.6C had stood for 75 years.

Paris has experienced some of the hottest temperatures due to a phenomenon known as the "urban heat island", according to Meteo France.

This effect is caused by a lack of green space in the city, which causes buildings and roads to absorb heat from the sun during the day and emit it like radiators during the night. This means the city is unable to cool down during prolonged heatwaves.

Several other French cities registered record temperatures of more than 40C on Tuesday, including Bordeaux and Brive.

Paris experienced the hottest day in its history on 25 July, 2019. The previous record temperature in Paris was 40.4C, set in 1947 (Getty Images)

Many of the records were previously set during the heatwave of 2003, which resulted in the deaths of around 15,000 people in the country.

Five deaths have already been attributed to the latest heatwave, including a 33-year-old homeless man in Lyon.

French officials have warned people not to take non-essential journeys, while government buildings in some parts of the country have closed down.

In the UK, temperatures reached 38.1C on Thursday, making it the hottest July day in history and the second highest UK temperature on record.

Extreme heatwaves will become increasingly common, according to climate scientists, who warn that human-caused climate change made such events twice as likely to occur.