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High pressure is forecast to bring a searing heatwave to southern Europe towards the end of this week. After devastating southern Italy, the high pressure will begin to move westwards, and over the weekend residents in southern Spain could see temperatures as high as 48C, according to BBC Weather. The most intense heat will affect the south of the peninsula. From Friday, in the city of Córdoba the maximum temperatures will exceed 42C, reaching their peak on Saturday, when they could go up to 47C, according to the State Meteorological Agency (Aemet).
At night, the coolest temperature is expected to be around a sweltering 24C.
Something similar is expected in Seville, where the maximum temperature will also exceed 42C in the next few days.
The heat will also affect the capital Madrid where temperatures are expected to exceed 40C.
The Canary Islands may also have higher temperatures during the weekend.
The Balearic Islands will be one of the most affected areas by heat and Saharan dust.
Temperatures in Mallorca may exceed 40C for at least four consecutive days, eltiempo.es reported.
According to Aemet, the heat is likely to start dropping on Sunday and Monday.
It is likely that a drop in temperatures will begin in western Spain before moving across the country.
READ MORE: Hot weather forecast: Heat blast heads to UK from ‘unusual source’
The Regional Minister for Climate Action, Food and Rural Agenda of the Catalan Generalitat, Teresa Jordà, said: “If there is one fire, we can deal with it, but if there are many, it will be very difficult to put them out.”
Officials have now called for preventative policies to be put in place, with the public being educated on how not to accidentally start a fire.
This includes telling people not to throw cigarettes or glass bottles on the ground.
In the first seven months of this year, more than 40,000 hectares of forest area have burned as of August 1.
This data is 20 percent below the average of the last decade.
The news comes after Europe witnessed its highest temperature in recorded history.
Scottish meteorologist Scott Duncan wrote on Twitter: “The previous record for Europe accepted by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) is 48.0°C from Athens in 1977.
“That record is fiercely debated among many meteorologists and climatologists. Very dubious, perhaps we can all rest and agree in this reading.
“Time will tell.
“SIAS in Sicily (who own and maintain the network of observations) have officially accepted the 48.8°C.
“A dangerous heatwave spanning much of North Africa and into Southern Europe is unfolding right now. The focus of heat will shift west and north slightly in the coming days.
“More records are inevitable.”
Additional reporting by Maria Ortega
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