The Latest: EU speeds up funds for farmers amid drought

MADRID – The Latest on the heatwave in Europe (all times local):

2:20 p.m.

The European Union is offering to speed up funds for farmers to help them cope with the effects of drought across the continent.

The EU's executive Commission said Thursday that farmers could obtain at least 70 percent of their rural development funds from mid-October instead of December, so they can deal with any cash flow problems.

The EU is also easing conditions that some farmers must meet to access money. In some cases, land required to be kept fallow and not used for production may be used grow animal feed.

At least eight of the 28 member countries have appealed for flexibility in the application of Europe's crop diversification and environment rules due to the adverse weather.

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10:40 a.m.

Hot air from Africa is bringing a new heatwave to Europe, prompting health warnings about Sahara Desert dust and exceptionally high temperatures that are forecast to peak at 47 degrees Celsius (116.6 Fahrenheit) in some southern areas.

The torrid weather meant public services were put on alert in the Iberian peninsula, where temperatures were forecast to reach 44 degrees (111 Fahrenheit) Thursday in the Portuguese city of Evora, 130 kilometers (81 miles) east of Lisbon and the Spanish province of Badajoz across the border.

A hot air mass was moving northward from Africa, authorities said, warning that the mercury could peak at 47 degrees Celsius this weekend in some areas of southern Portugal.

Portuguese authorities issued a nationwide health warning, including for dust from the Sahara Desert. Warnings were also issued for 40 of Spain's 50 provinces. The southeastern Portuguese town of Beja is expected to see a peak of 47 degrees C on Saturday.

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10:40 a.m.

Sweden's official tallest point is set to change amid record summer temperatures.

Scientists said a glacier on Kebnekaise mountain, the Scandinavian country's highest peak at 2,111 meters (6,925 feet, 10 inches), is melting and is no longer Sweden's tallest point.

Gunhild Rosqvist, a Stockholm University professor in geography, said the glacier lost four meters (13 feet, 2 ½ inches) of snow in July alone as Sweden endured record temperatures that triggered dozens of wildfires, even in the Arctic Circle.

In eastern Europe, Poland was also enduring unusually high temperatures as the hot African air pushed temperatures up to 34 degrees Celsius (93.2 Fahrenheit).

The country's power plants went into emergency mode to increase output due to wide use of air conditioning and electric fans. Authorities in Warsaw placed cooling water installations in the streets and advised people to stay indoors. Dozens of Baltic Sea beaches have "no swimming" warnings due to health risks from algae blooms.

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AP correspondents across Europe contributed to this report.