Holidaymakers were urged to take cover yesterday as Spain baked in its hottest May temperatures for 20 years.
Heat soared to around 42C in some areas due to a blast of hot dry air from north Africa.
The temperatures have been 10 to 15 degrees higher than average in recent days, particularly in the south.
People in 13 locations, including Madrid and Seville, were warned to take care in scorching heat.
The hot weather is common in the summer but very rare in May.
Spain is the UK’s most popular destination, attracting 18 million tourists a year pre-pandemic.
In the first three months of this year, 1.76 million Britons have visited.
Rubén del Campo, of meteorological agency Aemet, said: “The last updates confirm the extraordinary intensity of this heatwave.
“For Spain as a whole, it could be the most intense May heatwave of the past 20 years in terms of maximum and minimum temperatures.”
Meanwhile, the South East of the UK could bask in 24C (75F) heat today. Cloudy conditions were forecast elsewhere, with showers in the north and west.
But strong winds and rain are expected to sweep in later in the week, with temperatures of 16C (60F) in the South West and 14C (57F) in the North East.
The Met Office ’s Dan Rudman said: “The strengthening of the jetstream increases the chances of low pressure systems developing over the Atlantic being pushed to the UK.
“Weather of this nature isn’t unusual in spring, with changes in the jetstream frequently bringing unsettled interludes.”
Despite the forecast, there is no need to cancel Jubilee street parties yet.
Mr Rudman added: “The long-range outlook shows a trend for some possible warm weather in southern areas, and closer to average temperatures further north.”
