Weather forecasters have warned that ‘hell is coming’ as intense heatwaves rising up from Africa hit a huge swathe of Europe.

The ‘Saharan Bubble’ is expected to send temperatures soaring from today with conditions so intense they could ‘pose a threat to life’.

Experts say the heatwave is being caused by a 2000 mile wide plume of hot air being blown over from Africa by an unusually strong jet stream.

And it is having a knock-on effect in Britain, with two days of widespread downpours and flooding expected to clear for a sweltering weekend.

The hot spell could see temperatures soar past 30°C on Saturday, with Public Health England issuing a heat health alert beginning on Thursday for the elderly and those with young children.

Meteorologists have predicted that France will experience the hottest weather, climbing to 45°C and shattering the country’s warmest June on record.

Northern parts of France will be worst affected, including Paris, where matches in the women’s world cup are being held.

Officials are now considering the introduction of water breaks during the games to let athletes cool down.

Charities in the French city have also been providing homeless people on the streets with water, while local authorities have set up air-conditioned rooms so people can seek shelter from the heat.

Elsewhere temperatures in North-East Spain and Italy are set to reach the low to mid 40°C’s by Thursday, while previous highs will be approached and possibly exceeded across the rest of continental Europe.

Stefan Rahmstorf, a climate scientist at Potsdam University, tweeted: ‘Heatwaves are silent killers.

‘The 2003 European heat wave has caused about 70,000 fatalities.

‘Last year’s hot summer in Germany has been estimated to have caused at least 1,000 excess deaths.’

As well as France, meteorologists expect the blast of warm weather will set new June records in Germany, Switzerland and Belgium in the coming days.

How to stay cool this weekend

The warmest part of the day falls between late morning and mid afternoon, so stay inside if you feel too hot.

Keep your house as cool as possible by keeping curtains and blinds closed in rooms that catch the sun.

When travelling to and from work make sure you carry a bottle of water with you.

Try to limit the amount of caffeine and alcohol, as it can make you even more dehydrated.

It may be tricky to navigate the humid and cloudy conditions, but loose clothing will help people to stay cool even when the sun isn’t shining.

Dark colours absorb the light and will make you feel even hotter.

Take nice cool baths or showers, splash your face with cold water, or place a damp cloth on the back of your neck.

Always check the weather forecast before you leave the house, so that you can plan your day accordingly.

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