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(Bloomberg) — As Europe’s record-breaking heat wave recedes, the elements for the next hot spell are coalescing over the Atlantic Ocean. 

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Over the next few days, a region of high pressure is forecast to approach the continent and spread, pushing out cooler weather and resurrecting unusually hot conditions across Spain, France and the UK. Highs over Portugal and southern Spain are expected to reach 43C (109.4F) and 41C, respectively, this week, while Paris hits 30C by Friday and London 31C on Monday.

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Climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of heat waves on the world’s fastest-warming continent, straining health, transport and power systems, while exposing the housing vulnerabilities of cities like London. Still, the third heat wave to hit western Europe since the last week of May is unlikely to bring the extreme temperatures that seared the region last month, according to UK Met Office meteorologist Alex Burkill. 

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“At this stage it doesn’t look like it will be as exceptionally hot or as humid as it was for many of us last week,” Burkill said in a video briefing.

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The high pressure is set to raise average temperatures 3C to 7C across the region next week.

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Forecasts from national agencies and commercial weather firms increasingly point to repeated high-pressure systems building over western and central Europe through July, bringing successive rounds of hot and dry conditions. That raises the risks of drought and wildfires, while creating a difficult mix for energy markets with increased cooling demand, light wind generation and warm rivers that threaten to curb nuclear power output. 

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Commodity Weather Group has raised its monthly power demand estimate to 352 cooling degree days, which would make it an all-time record.

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Analysis from MetDesk shows an increased risk of heat-related nuclear curtailments from July 8, as extreme temperatures threaten to build toward the middle of the month.

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