Delivery drivers in France and workers on farms and construction sites have been told to stay indoors if possible, after a record-breaking heat wave has made outdoor work unsafe.

The heat wave has brought temperatures to the country during May that are usually only seen at the height of summer, with much of the nation experiencing between 32 C and 35 C on Monday, and with the southwest recording a high of 37.1 C.

Meteo France, France's weather agency, said: "Monday was the hottest day recorded for the month of May since measurements began."

The country usually experiences temperatures of between 18 C and 24 C during May, prompting Meteo France to describe the heat wave as a "premature, remarkable and long" event. It said Tuesday was on course to be even hotter, and that temperatures would stay high all week.

Weather forecasters said the unusually hot weather was caused by a "heat dome" that originated in Africa.

The United Kingdom also recorded its hottest ever May day on Monday, with 34.8 C registered in West London. Italy also saw temperatures of well over 30 C, prompting the government there to also put restrictions on outdoor work. And Spain is braced for temperatures of up to 40 C by the end of the week. The German news agency Deutsche Welle reported Germany broke the 30 C barrier on Saturday for the first time this year and was set to see temperatures continue to rise until Wednesday.

Scientists have said such extreme weather will become more common in Europe, with the continent warming faster than any other region because of human-driven climate change.

According to the European Union's Copernicus Climate Change Service, France recorded temperatures last year that were well above average, with most of the country seeing 15 more "summer days" than average, which means they had temperatures of at least 25 C.

France's government said on Tuesday seven people had died there because of the heat wave, with five of the fatalities attributed to drowning.

Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu said he plans to host a meeting on Thursday to review the country's ability to cope with such extreme weather.

Christophe Cassou, a climate scientist, told Le Monde newspaper the unusually hot weather blanketing France was made possible by human-driven climate change.

"This is an unprecedented event, with a one-in-1,000 chance of it happening at this time of year based on the climate from 1979 to 2025, and virtually impossible in the preindustrial era."

Robert Vautard, a climate researcher, told Agence France-Presse: "This extension of the heat wave season is entirely characteristic of the effects of climate change. Eventually, we will be seeing similar heat events in April and October."

earle@mail.chinadailyuk.com