Irish people going to Spain on their holidays in the coming days are being warned to prepare for “extreme” heat.
A heatwave has struck the country with “unusually high” temperatures expected in holiday hotspots this week.
Several ‘maximum temperature’ weather warnings have been issued by Spain’s national forecaster Aemet, as the mercury nears 40C in certain areas.
READ MORE: Spain holiday warning as Irish tourists face ‘extreme’ weather in popular hotspots
The most popular holiday spots, including the Canary Islands, Tenerife, Gran Canaria and Lanzarote, and the Balearic Island, Majorca, Menorca and Ibiza, will be the most affected by the “extreme” heat, Aemet said.
A spokesperson said: “As of Thursday, we will exceed 35C in large areas of the Peninsula; more than 30C - 32C in the Balearic Islands and the south of the Canary Islands.”
Spain’s meteorological agency also warned of “tropical nights” with temperatures not dropping below 20C in some areas.
It said these high temperatures are not typical for this time of year and are between 5C and 10C above the normal average.
“It will be unusually high temperatures for the time of year,” the spokesperson added.
It comes as Irish holidaymakers are among those being warned not do a “dangerous” behaviour in the hot weather.
Aemet has reminded both holidaymakers and locals of the importance of not leaving children, the disabled, the elderly or pets inside a vehicle unattended during high temperatures.
It wrote on Twitter: “When the heat arrives, remember the importance of not leaving children, the disabled, the elderly or pets inside vehicles.
“Studies show that the interior temperature of a parked car can quickly rise to dangerous levels for people and animals. Leaving windows ajar does not significantly reduce temperature rise.
“In addition, the effects can be more severe in children because they do not yet have the ability to regulate their body temperature efficiently.”
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