LONDON, July 15 Reuters Britain39;s weather forecaster issued its firstever red Extreme Heat warning for parts of England on Monday and Tuesday when temperatures are forecast to reach record highs, triggering a national emergency alert level.

Much of Europe is baking in a heat wave that has pushed temperatures into the mid40s Celsius in some regions, with wildfires raging across tinderdry country in Portugal, Spain, France and Croatia on Thursday.

The highest ever recorded temperature in Britain was 38.7C 102 Fahrenheit recorded in Cambridge University Botanic Garden on July 25, 2019. The Met Office said it was now forecasting temperatures of 40C for the first time in Britain.

Exceptional, perhaps recordbreaking temperatures are likely early next week, Met Office Chief Meteorologist Paul Gundersen said, predicting a 50 chance temperatures top 40C and 80 chance a new maximum temperature is reached.

Nights are also likely to be exceptionally warm, especially in urban areas, he said in a statement. This is likely to lead to widespread impacts on people and infrastructure.

Alongside, Britain39;s Health Security Agency UKHSA raised

the heat health warning to Level 4 for England for Monday and Tuesday.

On the Met Office website, a Level 4 red alert is defined as a national emergency, and is used when a heatwave is so severe andor prolonged that its effects extend outside the health and social care system. At this level, illness and death may occur among the fit and…