Spain and Portugal are bracing for an extreme Iberian heatwave this week, with parts of the region potentially reaching scorching temperatures of forty-one degrees Celsius. Seville and Cordoba are among the worst-hit areas, where dangerous levels of heat are expected. These rising temperatures mark a significant departure from the usual May average of twenty-eight degrees Celsius.

The Spanish state meteorological agency, Agencia Estatal de Meteorología, has issued high temperature alerts for regions affected, including Lleida, Tarragona, and Valle del Guadalquivir. The agency cautioned about the potential for storms on May thirtieth, adding to the weather concerns.

The soaring temperatures are attributed to a powerful anticyclone descending from the Azores, which will bring warm, dry air from Africa across the Iberian Peninsula. For the next four days, Seville’s temperature could reach thirty-eight degrees Celsius, with a worrying ultraviolet level forecasted at ten, prompting health warnings.

Residents and visitors are advised to seek shade, particularly between eleven AM and three PM, to minimise health risks. Overnight lows will remain uncomfortably warm, around twenty-five degrees Celsius, adding to concerns over the continuation of high temperatures and the risk of wildfires, which have plagued southern Spain in recent years.