Many parts of Spain, Portugal and the Mediterranean will experience an Iberian heatwave this week, with temperatures set to reach a scorching 41°C in places. The worst-hit areas will be Seville and Cordoba in the south of Spain.

The hottest days are forecast to be May 29, 30, 31 and June 1, with temperatures dropping slightly at the start of next week. These figures represent a period of unseasonably hot weather, with temperatures usually averaging 28°C in the south of Spain in May.

Such temperatures will likely cause concern in Spain, a country which has faced water shortage problems in recent years due to long spells of hot weather. There have also been wildfires.

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Orange smoke over Spanish mountainsOrange smoke over Spanish mountains

Southern Spain has wrestled with wildfires in recent years -Credit:AP

The weather has caused the Agencia Estatal de Meteorología (AEMET), the Spanish equivalent of The Met Office, to issue high temperature warnings for Seville, Cordoba, Lleida, Tarragona and Valle del Guadalquivir.

The AEMET has also warned of storms on Friday, May 30, in many areas in the north and south of the country. From superstar gigs to cosy pubs, find out What’s On in Wales by signing up to our newsletter here.

A grey map with areas of yellowA grey map with areas of yellow

The areas of Spain with storm warnings for Friday, May 30 -Credit:Agencia Estatal de Meteorología

The AEMET forecast for the Andalusia region of Spain reads: “Partly cloudy to clear skies. Daytime cloud cover in the mountain ranges. Temperatures will fluctuate slightly along the Mediterranean coast, rising elsewhere.

“Light, variable winds with moderate southerly winds in the afternoon. Moderate easterly winds will be expected along the Almería coast and the Strait of Gibraltar, where strong winds may occasionally develop.”

The Spanish forecaster has put the phenomenon down to the presence of a “powerful anticyclone” in the Azores which will reach the Iberian Peninsula and Balearic Islands.

The anticyclone will carry warm, dry and dusty air from Africa over Andalusia, the Alboran Sea and the central peninsula.

For the next four days, temperatures in Seville will reach 38°C, with the UV level reaching 10. Met Office advice for a UV level of that scale is to spend time in the shade between 11AM and 3PM. Humidity is set to sit around 40% during the mornings and drop during the day.

Temperatures overnight will stay at around 25°C.