British holidaymakers are being advised to prepare for intense heat as they travel to southern Europe this week. The heatwave is expected to bring temperatures as high as 42°C to popular destinations in Spain and Portugal, along with other parts of southern Europe.
Spain’s national meteorological agency, Aemet, has issued warnings for “extreme heat” across many popular regions, including the Canary Islands. The UK Met Office has corroborated this, noting that a significant heatwave is impacting Spain, Portugal, and Morocco during the peak of the summer holiday season.
The weather alert highlights that temperatures could soar into the mid to high 40s in certain areas, though they are expected to moderate slightly towards the end of the week. Specifically, Madrid could reach 39°C, Seville 43°C, and Lisbon up to 37°C on Wednesday. The heat will be even more intense in Marrakech, where temperatures are forecasted to hit 46°C.
Local authorities in Spain have responded by issuing health warnings and preparing for a high risk of wildfires. Emergency measures include providing shelters for homeless individuals in Madrid, equipped with air conditioning, food, and drinks to help them cope with the extreme temperatures.
Regions such as Andalusia, the Balearic Islands, Castile and Leon, Castilla la Mancha, Galicia, and Madrid are currently under yellow heat warnings. Starting Tuesday, the number of affected areas will increase, with Madrid, Galicia, Extremadura, Castile and Leon, and Andalusia moving to orange heat alerts.
Greece, which has also been experiencing severe heat, reported temperatures reaching 43°C last week and faced related forest fires.
Travelers are advised to stay hydrated, avoid prolonged exposure to the sun, and take necessary precautions to ensure their safety during this heatwave.