Extreme heat is stifling Europe, where tens of millions of people were bracing for more dangerous temperatures and firefighters battled blazes sparked by dry conditions.

Weather agencies in southern Europe issued alerts on Wednesday, warning of a third day of high temperatures. France and Spain have been experiencing the most severe conditions, and at least two people have died in the heat wave that has brought record temperatures and unbearable conditions for some people working outdoors.

The heat was forecast to peak into midweek before it moves east, with temperatures expected to rise in eastern and southeastern Europe.

Which countries are affected?

Spain: Wildfires have killed two people in the Catalonia region, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said on Wednesday. The regional government said that more than 16,000 acres had burned. Firefighters have been battling the blazes, which on Wednesday were still burning in three areas, emergency services said.

Weather warnings remained in place for 11 of Spain’s regions. Temperatures were expected to rise as high as 43 degrees Celsius, or 109 degrees Fahrenheit, in Seville.

Earlier in the week, AEMET, Spain’s state meteorological agency, recorded temperatures that climbed to 109 degrees Fahrenheit or 42 Celsius. The mercury reached 114.8 Fahrenheit or 46 degrees Celsius on Saturday in El Granado, in the southwest — a national record for June.

France: Firefighters in France have responded to more than 300 emergencies, treating people who were affected by the conditions created by the extreme heat, Agnès Pannier-Runacher, the country’s environment minister, told a news conference on Wednesday.

Météo-France, the national weather service, issued the country’s highest level alert on Wednesday for four regions in eastern France, where the highest temperatures were expected to hover from 36 to 39 degrees Celsius, or around 97 and 102 degrees Fahrenheit.

To help cope with the heat, city officials in Paris extended opening hours at parks and public swimming pools. For tourists, the top of the Eiffel Tower was expected to remain closed through Wednesday as a result of the heat.

Elsewhere: In Italy, the health ministry put 18 cities on the highest-level heat alert on Wednesday. The health ministry in Portugal also issued a health warning this week, while cooler parts of the continent, like Germany and Croatia had also warned of unusually high temperatures. Showers on Wednesday cooled Britain’s second official heat wave of the year. This June was the warmest on record for England, according to provisional statistics from Britain’s Met Office.

Has the heat led to wildfires?

High temperatures, coupled with drought conditions, have also fueled wildfires in Spain and other parts of Europe.

Wildfires in five districts in Turkey forced the temporary evacuation of more than 50,000 people, the country’s emergency management authority said on social media on Monday. One person was hospitalized and 79 people were treated for minor injuries, the emergency service said.

Firefighters in Greece were on high alert on Tuesday, after finally dousing a fire that destroyed 6,000 hectares — nearly 15,000 acres — of forests on the island of Chios, and putting out dozens of smaller fires around the country.

In Portugal, firefighters from cities reinforced personnel in rural parts of the country, the national news agency, LUSA, reported. There was one active wildfire in the country as of Wednesday morning, according to Fogos, a website that collects data to map wildfires in Portugal.

How unusual is the heat?

Temperatures are well above seasonal norms. In Rome, summers typically experience average highs of 86. On Monday afternoon, temperatures in Tor Vergata, a southeastern suburb, were over 104.

But as the planet continues to warm, what was once rare has become frequent. Meteorologists say that Europe should expect more and hotter heat waves as a result of climate change.

What are some safety tips for heat?

If air-conditioning is difficult to find, experts advise, use water to cool down. Staying hydrated is crucial, and dampening skin with mist or a wet towel can also help.

At home, experts suggest, limit sunlight, particularly in the afternoon, by blocking out windows with a blanket or dark sheet. Leaving windows open at night, where possible, and running fans are also tips.

Behavior matters, too. Try to avoid heavy exercise outdoors, and try not to use an oven.

Experts also recommend staying alert to signs of heat exhaustion (which include heavy sweating, cold or clammy skin, a fast or weak pulse and fainting) and heat stroke (which can cause a body temperature of over 103, hot skin, confusion and fainting).

And keep pets and children cool by monitoring their activity, giving them water and cooling them off with wet towels.

Ségolène Le Stradic, José Bautista and Niki Kitsantonis contributed reporting.