Brits going on Spain holiday this summer are being warned to expect hotter weather than usual over the next three months.
Parts of the holiday hotspots are already enduring temperatures way into the 40Cs, with hotter weather still likely to come at the height of the summer.
Costa del Sol, as well as the Balearic and Canary Islands, are set to experience the most intense conditions up until the end of next week.
An Orange weather warning has been issued with highs in Andalusia forecast to hit 44C. Many other parts of the country are on Yellow alert.
Those heading to southern parts of Spain are have been urged to take preventative measures to protect themselves from the heat, such as staying indoors, ensuring they stay hydrated and wearing SPF 50 suncream.
Aemet, the Spanish state’s meteorological agency, has issued orange weather warnings for a large stretch of the south and west of the country.
It warns that many areas will edge towards the mid-40Cs this week, while the whole country will be around or just below 40C.
The extreme heatwave will affect tourists visiting some of Spain’s most popular holiday spots, including Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, Majorca and Ibiza.
Local authorities in the Canary Islands have already launched an emergency heat prevention plan - which is set to last until 15 September - after the mercury hit 42C this weekend.
Healthcare centres are on high alert to deal with a potential surge of patients affected by the intense heat.
A health spokesperson from the Canary Islands said: "These actions are intended to increase individual prevention capacity to face the heat in the Canary Islands by applying measures that are easy and accessible.
“All the hospitals and the Canary Islands Emergency Service (SUC) have staff designated and specially trained to deal with and effectively coordinate the services in the event of a possible heatwave, as well as the established communication channels."
Holidaymakers heading to the Canaries or Balearics this summer are advised to stay in the shade as much as possible to avoid suffering heat exhaustion or heatstroke, and keep hydrated by drinking plenty of water.
Heat exhaustion - which is the precursor to heatstroke and is the body’s response to overheating - is often caused by a loss of water and salt.
It can lead to headaches, dizziness and nausea and turn into heat exhaustion if the body is not cooled down.
Those concerned about suffering in the hot weather should drink plenty of water, take cool baths or showers, wear light coloured clothes, sprinkle water over their skin, and avoid excessive alcohol consumption.
The weather in Spain has been getting hotter in recent years, due to climate change.
In 2020, the average temperature in the country was 1.7 degrees Celsius higher than the average in preindustrial times, between 1850 and 1900.
“Without additional mitigation, regional temperature increase will be of 2.2°C in 2040, possibly exceeding 3.8°C in some regions in 2100,” researchers found.
