Spain is facing another blast of exceptionally hot weather this week, meteorologists have warned.
Temperatures are set to climb as much as 10C above normal for late September, with highs exceeding 36C in Andalucia.
Astronomical autumn officially begins on September 23 at 2.25am, but state weather agency Aemet says conditions will feel anything but autumnal.
‘This week astronomical autumn begins, specifically on the 23rd at 2.25am mainland time, but the weather will be full summer,’ said Aemet spokesman Ruben del Campo.
High pressure is expected to dominate much of Spain, bringing predominantly clear skies, little rainfall and unusually high temperatures throughout the working week.
More than 36C in Andalucia
The heat will be particularly noticeable across southern Spain.
Temperatures of around 34C to 36C are forecast across much of inland Andalucia on Tuesday and Wednesday, while the Guadalquivir Valley could exceed 36C.
Similar temperatures are expected in parts of Extremadura, Castilla-La Mancha and southern Galicia.
Aemet says daytime temperatures across much of Spain will be running between 5C and 10C above the seasonal average, with anomalies of more than 10C possible in parts of northern Spain.
Monday will see temperatures rise notably across the north and east of mainland Spain, the Balearic Islands and the Canary Islands.
Highs above 35C are expected in parts of the northeast, inland Galicia, the Tajo Valley, Extremadura and the Guadalquivir Valley.
Strong Levante in the Strait
While most of the country enjoys clear or largely cloudless skies, conditions will be different around the Strait of Gibraltar.
Strong Levante winds are expected to continue, with some drizzle possible around the Strait.
The easterly wind is forecast to remain strong through Tuesday and Wednesday even as much of the rest of Spain remains dry and settled.
Tropical nights return
The unseasonable heat is expected to continue into Thursday and Friday.
Maximum temperatures could again exceed 34C across large areas, including inland Galicia, the Ebro Valley and much of southwestern Spain.
The Tajo, Guadiana and Guadalquivir valleys could once again push beyond 36C.
Night-time temperatures will also remain unusually high in some areas.
Tropical nights – when temperatures fail to fall below 20C – are expected along parts of the Mediterranean coast and across areas of southern Spain.
The Canary Islands will also remain hot, generally reaching between 32C and 34C and exceeding 34C in southern parts of the islands.
Some relief could finally arrive towards the weekend as a weather front approaches northwestern Spain.
Temperatures are expected to fall slightly as a result, although Aemet says they are still likely to remain high for the time of year.
