German weatherman dons traditional Egyptian galabeya amid scorching heatwave

A German weatherman has worn a traditional Egyptian farmer's robe during a broadcast, as a scorching heatwave grips Europe from the Mediterranean to the Arctic Circle.

RTL weather forecaster Bernd Fuchs donned the galabeya - the native dress of Egypt's Nile Valley - as he presented the weather on Sunday.

"The heatwave hasn't affected my mind, but I have worn what best suits the desert weather expected in Germany," Fuchs said.

The loose fitting galabeya is worn by farmers and tradesmen across Egypt for its comfort and ventilation while working in the intense North African heat.

Video of the broadcast has been shared by Egyptians on social media with many users hailing Fuchs for embracing their local culture.

Weeks of nonstop sunshine and near-record temperatures have caused droughts and seen tinder-dry forests consumed by wildfires across Europe.

Germany expects a fresh spike mid-week to around 39 C before temperatures ease, with official figures showing the average for April-July running 3.6 degrees higher than the 1961-1990 reference period.

German farmers have continued to plead for help, with the president of Germany's farmers' association, Joachim Rukwied, saying a billion euros ($1.15 billion) in government aid may be necessary as crop failure rates hit 70 percent in some areas.

More than a million children returned to school on Monday in three German states - Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland and Hesse - but some were allowed to go home early because of the heatwave.