Extreme heat warning issued in the U.K.

An extreme heat warning has been issued across parts of the U.K., with water safety experts urging people to take care when cooling off in rivers, lakes, and coastal waters. The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) warned that while temperatures on land are soaring, open water can still be cold enough to trigger cold water shock. Regional Water Safety Lead Chris Cousens said the risk increases when there is a large gap between air and water temperatures, and urged people to "think carefully before they enter open water." He advised people who get into difficulty to "float to live" by remaining calm and floating on their backs until the effects of cold-water shock pass. Across Europe, several countries are also sweltering. About a third of France was under a heat red alert on June 21, and temperatures are expected to reach 40°C (104°F) in some areas, in a country where air conditioning isn't widespread. The forecast for June 22 was even hotter. Spain kicked off the summer with large parts of the country on alert due to temperatures expected to hover around 40°C (104°F)—even in the interior of the Basque Country, a northern region that typically experiences cooler temperatures. In Italy, authorities expanded heat warnings—referred to locally as “red flags”—to eight cities in northern and central parts of the country. Temperatures there are mostly in the upper 30s °C (high 90s to low 100s °F). More than 200,000 people across Europe died from heat-related causes over the last four years, and most of the fatalities were preventable, the World Health Organization’s Europe office said. More above-average temperatures are expected this summer, which can cause heat exhaustion and life-threatening heat stroke. This article was provided by The Associated Press.