Spain is bracing for an extraordinary burst of late-summer heat this week, with forecasters warning that temperatures could hit 40C in parts of the peninsula.
Weather experts have described the levels as ‘excessive and unusual for this time of year.’
According to Spain’s meteorological agency AEMET, the air mass over the country will be so warm that temperatures at 1,500 metres altitude will be higher than any recorded during mid-September in the 1991–2020 reference period.
The hottest days are expected to fall between September 17 and 19, with record values forecast across large areas of Spain.
In the south, particularly in the Guadalquivir Valley, highs of 38–39C are likely, with some spots pushing up to 40C.
Elsewhere, much of the peninsula will see maximums between 30C and 35C.
Saharan dust and fire risk
The combination of searing heat and a lack of rainfall – except in the far north – will drive up the risk of wildfires.
At the same time, Saharan dust is set to return. AEMET expects it to hit the Canary Islands first from Monday, spreading and intensifying through the week, before reaching the southwest of the peninsula by Wednesday.
Read more Andalucia news at the Spanish Eye.
