People sunbathe at the Cote des Basques beach in Biarritz in southwestern France. In Paris, temps reached 39 degrees Celsius (102 degrees Fahrenheit), a record for the year.
CNN  — 

London recorded its hottest temperature of the year Friday, reaching 37.8 degrees Celsius. That’s 100 degrees Fahrenheit.

The city’s hottest day of the year is now more of a scorcher than Miami’s hottest – 98 degrees Fahrenheit (36.7 degrees Celsius). Atlanta, sometimes referred to as ‘Hotlanta,’ has only reached a max temperature of 95 degrees Fahrenheit this year (35 degrees Celsius).

Friday’s record heat comes as a heat wave broils much of western Europe.

Check out how high temperatures will get across Europe

High temperatures anywhere from 10 to 15 degrees above normal are expected on Friday in much of western Europe, mainly in France, Spain and southern portions of the UK, according to CNN meteorologists.

Highs in the region will remain in mid to upper thirty degree Celsius range. Paris will reach 39 degrees Celsius (102 degrees Fahrenheit) and London will hit 34 degrees Celsius (93 degrees Fahrenheit), setting the record for hottest temperature this year for both cities. Madrid will see a high of 39 degrees Celsius (102 degrees Fahrenheit), continuing the city’s hottest week of 2020.

Record-setting heat will hit parts of Western Europe Friday.

Check out how high temperatures will get across Europe

High pressure in northern Africa is responsible for summer heat in the Iberian Peninsula. However, in recent years, other parts of western Europe have endured longer than normal heat waves, so this episode continues that trend.

The heat continues through Saturday for Paris at 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit) and Madrid continuing to reach 39 degrees Celsius (102 degrees Fahrenheit), while London will cool somewhat with a more seasonable 24 degrees Celsius (75 degrees Fahrenheit).

High temperatures will persist in more southern regions on Saturday.

A strong cold front is poised to put and end to the heat wave by Sunday. The leading edge of the front moves through the UK by Saturday with rain showers. However, stronger thunderstorms with hail are possible across France and Germany by Sunday.