BRITISH tourists heading to France have been warned as the deadly heatwave dubbed "Cerberus" passes through Europe sending temperatures soaring and storms raging.

       The mercury in holiday hotspots across Europe could reach 45C while France is bracing for severe thunderstorms this week.

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       Temperatures in France are set to soar to 40C as heatwave Cerberus passes through Europe Credit: AFP 4

       France has already been battered by thunderstorms Credit: Rex 4

       The highest temperatures are expected in the southeast of France and Corsica Credit: Meteofrance 4

       A heatwave coming from Sahara is passing through Europe

       Forecaster Météo France predicts temperatures are set to rise up to 40C across the country on Thursday with red weather alerts being in place in eastern and southern France.

       A yellow weather warning is in place in the east of the country for several regions including Marseille while an orange warning is in force in Nice.

       The mercury has risen to 40C on the island of Corsica while 38C was recorded in the Rh？ne Valley in the southeast.

       The high temperatures are followed by thunderstorms and strong winds as multiple regions across the country were issued with tier-three orange alert weather warnings.

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       Weather experts have declared 2023 an El Ni？o year - a natural phenomenon that occurs cyclically and causes fluctuations in the global climate.

       The highest temperature ever recorded in France was 45.9C in 2019 - another El Ni？o year.

       The UN’s World Meteorological Organization said it will raise temperatures around the world, and the effect is likely to continue for the rest of the year.

       In some areas in the east, the warning was raised to the red alert level, which means there is a risk of a storm causing trees to fall, floods, or damage in buildings, according to Météo France.

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       Locals were urged not to travel unless necessary and seek shelter indoors.

       French cities including Lyon, Strasbourg, and Nancy announced the temporary closure of public parks.

       Scorching temperatures have been recorded across Europe thanks to the deadly heatwave Cerberus coming from Sahara.

       The anticyclone has already caused sweltering weather in Europe with temperatures reaching record highs.

       Holidaymakers in the Mediterranean have been urged to take precautions as Spain is set to have 42C while temperatures in Greece will reach 45C.

       Spain's meteorological agency AEMET issued a "Level 1 heat alert" as the mercury is set to rise in popular resorts such as Benidorm and the islands of Majorca, Menorca, and Ibiza.

       The first heatwave of this summer in Greece is expected to last ten days reaching an average of 42C to 43C across the country.