An orange heat alert has been issued for the Costa del Sol and Guadalhorce Valley on Sunday.

The warning was upgraded from a less-severe yellow on Saturday night due to the impending arrival of the hot terral winds.

State weather agency Aemet has also issued yellow heat warnings for other parts of the region, which will be in force from 1pm until 8.59pm.

The Costa del Sol and Guadalhorce Valley are the most affected areas, where highs could reach 39C along the coast, and up to 40C in inland areas.

The hot and dry terral wind is one of the most dreaded weather phenomena on the Malaga coast because it is capable of sending temperatures soaring within a matter of hours while stripping the air of humidity.

Elsewhere, Sevilla is forecast to reach 38C, while the Cordoba countryside could see highs of 39C, with some spots touching 40C.

Yellow alerts are also in force for Jaen’s Guadalquivir Valley, where temperatures are expected to hit 38C, as well as Guadix and Baza in Granada province and the Almanzora Valley and Los Velez in Almeria, which are also forecast to reach 38C.

The Levante area of Almeria is expected to peak at 36C.

The warnings come after a brief break from the recent heatwave, with forecasters urging residents and holidaymakers to take extra care during the hottest hours of the afternoon.

Authorities recommend staying hydrated, avoiding strenuous outdoor activity in the middle of the day and never leaving children or pets inside parked vehicles.

While the warnings remain at the lowest yellow level, the combination of intense sunshine and the arrival of the terral is expected to make conditions feel significantly hotter across parts of the Costa del Sol on Sunday afternoon.

Read more Andalucia news at the Spanish Eye.