Spain is sweltering through temperatures of more than 40°C as a heatwave sweeps across southern Europe just as the summer holiday season begins.
Heat health and fire alerts have been issued, and now all eyes are on Seville, which is forecast to hit 42°C on Sunday. By 10am this morning, the Andalusian city was already at 41°C.
While southern Spain is always hot in summertime, meteorologists and locals say it is unusual to see heat so extreme this early in the year.
Hot air from North Africa, which is spreading across the Balkans to the continent’s most popular tourist destinations, is contributing to soaring temperatures.
Is it safe to travel to Seville?
In terms of official advice from the UK Foreign Office, it’s business as usual for travelling to Spain.
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However, the country’s national weather agency AEMET has warned of extreme temperatures exceeding 40°C across much of the country this weekend.
On the streets of Madrid and Barcelona, people were seen cooling themselves in fountains. One tourist was spotted using two umbrellas to shield herself from the blazing sun at the Sagrada Familia.
June is on track to be the hottest on record.
What warnings are in place?
The state weather agency has issued a special heatwave warning for the southwest and the northeast near the Pyrenees, where in parts it is expected to reach 42°C.
How to stay cool in Seville
Spanish health authorities have advised people to avoid strenuous activity during the hottest hours of the day, from 11am to 3pm, and to stay hydrated.
This advice is particularly important for vulnerable groups such as the elderly and young children.
Each summer, Metro chats to experts about how to keep cool when the mercury rises.
Over the years, they’ve told us how to make your own air con (by putting a bottle of ice and a tablespoon of salt into the freezer, then sticking the frozen bottle in front of a fan; as the ice melts, the breeze from the fan will pick up the cool air coming from the ice’s surface. This will recreate a cool breeze, similar to an air conditioning unit).
While it might sound counterintuitive, they say it’s best to keep windows and curtains closed during the day to prevent a greenhouse-like heat effect inside.
Similar to windows, it can be tempting to keep all of your inside doors open as the weather hots up – but experts say this can add to the problem.
When heat is at its most intense, shut off unused rooms so the limited breeze can permeate through the rooms you’re in.
As it starts to get cooler, leave the bedroom doors open at night so cool air can travel through the home.
Otherwise, it’s all about staying cool and hydrated. Wear loose-fitting clothing, sip on water and keep a bottle close at hand, and remember to stay in the shade as much as possible.
