Holidaymakers heading to Spain have been warned to brace themselves for "extreme" heat as temperatures are predicted to reach up to 42C this week.
The anomalous warmth comes after India and Pakistan experienced exceptional weather conditions in recent weeks, with people enduring temperatures of almost 50C. Although slightly milder, a heatwave is now also making its way across western Europe including Spain and the Balearic Islands.
Spain's meteorological agency AEMET has urged people to be prepared for "unusually" high temperatures over the next few days, reports the Irish Mirror. Weather models show the mercury could climb as high as 42C in some parts of the south.
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A spokesperson for AEMET said: “Very high temperatures will exceed 35C in many parts of the Peninsula and the Balearic Islands. It may reach 40C to 42C in parts of the south and Ebro, with very warm nights. It will be a truly unusual episode for the time.”
According to forecasters temperatures are expected to rise between 5 and 10 degrees more than the May average from Wednesday. In Spain, in the Pyrenees, the Ebro valley and the east the mercury could rise up to 15C higher than average.
Temperatures are set to peak on Thursday and are not expected to drop until next week. Forecasts predict that daytime temperatures will be around the mid-30s, but in some areas could pass 40C.
The warmest days will be Friday and Saturday with “tropical nights” throughout the week where temperatures won't drop below 20C.
AEMET added: "The warm episode will be very unusual for mid-May: daytime temperatures between 10C and 15C above normal and night temperatures between 5C and 10C above, with tropical nights in which it will not drop below 20C.”
Temperatures will likely fall from Monday to “more typical” values but holidaymakers are being urged to take necessary precautions in the “intense” heat.
Met Office Gibraltar wrote on Twitter: "Some exceptional heat will develop in much of Spain over the next few days. Max temperatures could near 40C in Seville and Cordoba Fri - the typical high at this time of year is around 28C! Gibraltar will stay much cooler thanks to easterly Levante winds off the sea."
