Europe braces for blistering June weekend heat

France, Spain and other western European nations yesterday braced for a sweltering June weekend that is set to break records and sparked concern about forest fires and the effects of climate change. Temperatures already nudged over 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) in parts of France on Friday. In Spain, forest fires burned nearly 9,000 hectares of land in the northwest Sierra de la Culebra region on Friday, forcing some 200 people from their homes. Temperatures were above 35 Celsius on Friday in most parts of the country. The UK recorded its hottest day of the year on Friday with temperatures reaching over 30 Celsius in the early afternoon, meteorologists said.