Record temperatures point to likely extreme heatwaves this summer 

New York City broke a temperature record from the 1970s as Central Park reached 32C in the middle of what should be spring weather. File picture: Gary Hershorn/Getty Images

Europe’s leading scientists have warned “alarming” climate change will lead to heatwaves becoming longer and heat stress threatening lives, following the continent’s warmest ever recorded summer.

Soaring temperatures across much of the world in recent weeks are a harbinger of extreme heatwaves to come this summer, with Thailand, New York, and Central Asia already feeling the effects in April.