Andalucia has been placed under its first official heat warning of the year, with temperatures expected to approach 40C in parts of the region on Friday.

State weather agency Aemet has issued a yellow alert for the countryside areas of Sevilla and Cordoba provinces, where temperatures are forecast to soar during the afternoon.

The warning will be in force between 2pm and 7pm and marks the start of what forecasters say will be a prolonged spell of intense heat across much of Andalucia.

Sevilla and Cordoba are expected to be the hottest areas in the region, with thermometers pushing close to the 40C mark.

The alert follows a week of unusually high temperatures that have repeatedly placed Andalucian towns among the hottest locations in Spain.

In Jaen province, Andujar reached 38.1C earlier this week, while Montoro in Cordoba has consistently topped national temperature rankings.

On Sunday, Montoro recorded 38.1C, narrowly ahead of Andujar on 38C and Bailen on 37.2C.

The trend continued throughout the week.

Forecasters expect the hot conditions to continue into the weekend, with inland parts of Andalucia once again bearing the brunt of the early-season heatwave.

The warning comes just weeks before the official start of summer and follows what has already been an exceptionally warm May across southern Spain.

Read more Andalucia news at the Spanish Eye.