Weather tracker: Severe thunderstorms sweep Europe and east Asia

Severe thunderstorms swept across the Balkans last week, bringing widespread destruction to parts of the region. The storms developed as unstable hot air lingered over the Adriatic Sea while a cold front plunged south-eastward.

The front began its journey on 10 June in Slovenia, where the Slovenian Environment Agency recorded 65mph gusts at Ljubljana airport. Heavy rain also fell widely across the region with 23mm reported in Kranj.

Alongside heavy rain, hail the size of golf balls plummeted from the sky as the front edged south-eastwards towards Croatia. One of the worst affected areas was the Komenda municipality, where the local fire department reported damage to more than 100 buildings. Some homes lost their roofs in the violent winds.

In the early hours of 11 June, the storm edged south-eastwards into Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina before reaching Greece on 12 June.

Similar conditions have been observed on the opposite side of Eurasia. The Hong Kong Observatory issued a black rainstorm warning on Thursday. When a black warning is issued, outdoor workers are expected to take shelter until it is safe and schools are closed.

Hourly rainfall totals exceeded 70mm, only 10 days after the first black warning was issued on 8 June, bringing widespread flooding to the area. Rain is not the only hazard that struck the region as wind speeds of 50mph were recorded in the district of Tai O.

France has experienced heatwave conditions recently, with temperatures in the mid-to high-30s degrees celsius, affecting a large swathe of the country. The heat is expected to intensify further in the coming days, with temperatures forecast to reach 41C.

The heatwave has been particularly unusual because the most intense heat has been concentrated in northern and western France. These regions are typically cooler than areas such as the Rhône valley, which more commonly experiences the highest temperatures during heatwaves.