SPAIN is bracing for another spell of extreme heat as firefighters across the country continue to battle devastating wildfires, with temperatures forecast to hit 44C this week.
Meteorologists have warned a powerful ‘heat dome”‘is set to develop over the peninsula on Tuesday, trapping hot air beneath a strengthening high-pressure system and sending temperatures soaring once again.
The weather pattern could pave the way for Spain’s fourth heatwave of the summer, although forecasters say it is still too early to confirm whether official heatwave thresholds will be met.
According to Meteored meteorologist Samuel Biener, inland and eastern parts of Spain are expected to bear the brunt of the heat as a mass of Saharan air pushes across the country.
Temperatures are forecast to climb steadily from Tuesday, with highs exceeding 40C across the Guadalquivir, Guadiana and Ebro valleys for several consecutive days.
Forecasters say Friday could be the hottest day of the week, with Cordoba expected to reach 44C, while Toledo, Zaragoza and Ciudad Real could all see temperatures of around 42C.
Dust from the Sahara and afternoon cloud could slightly limit temperatures in some areas, although neither is expected to bring significant relief from the oppressive conditions.
The forecast comes after a brief cool spell brought by polar air ended Spain’s latest heatwave, but experts warn the respite was always expected to be short-lived.
The return of extreme heat will heighten wildfire concerns following Spain’s worst fire crisis in years, with nearly 100,000 people affected by the country’s largest wildfire on record near Madrid this week.
The blaze in Avila alone has scorched a record 50,000 hectares since breaking out last week, while a separate fire in the southwest of the Madrid region has burned around 27,000 hectares nearby.
Spain’s Ecological Transition Minister, Sara Aagesen, warned that rising temperatures would push wildfire risk across the country to ‘very high’ levels from Tuesday.
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