Large parts of inland Andalucia will swelter under heat warnings on Saturday as temperatures climb to 40C.
State weather agency Aemet has activated a mix of yellow and orange alerts across Sevilla, Cordoba, Jaen and Granada provinces.
The most severe warning has been issued for the Cordoba countryside, where an orange alert (‘important risk’) will be in force from 1pm until 8.59pm on Saturday.
Forecasters say temperatures will reach 40C and could locally exceed that mark.
Similar orange-level warnings have also been activated for the Guadalquivir Valley in Jaen province, where highs of 40C are expected.
Meanwhile, yellow alerts have been issued for several other inland areas:
- Sevilla: up to 39C
- Cuenca del Genil (Granada): up to 38C
- Cazorla y Segura (Jaen): up to 38C
All warnings are active between 1pm and 8.59pm on Saturday.
The affected areas correspond to some of the hottest parts of Andalucia, particularly along the Guadalquivir Valley, where temperatures frequently peak during summer heat events.
The alerts come as Spain braces for what meteorologists are describing as the first major heatwave of the summer.
Temperatures are expected to continue rising through the weekend and into next week, with parts of the Guadalquivir Valley potentially exceeding 42C on Sunday and early next week.
The heat is expected to be accompanied by tropical nights in many parts of southern Spain, with temperatures remaining above 20C after dark and offering little relief from the daytime heat.
According to Aemet, the current episode is being driven by a mass of very warm air over the peninsula and could mark the start of a prolonged spell of unusually high temperatures for June.
Read more Andalucia news at the Spanish Eye.
