Holidaymakers have been warned that parts of Spain will face 'extreme' temperatures over the next few days.
Weather warnings have been issued as forecasters predict temperatures could reach a blistering 44C in parts of the country this week.
The Agencia Estatal de Meteorología (AEMET), Spain's weather agency, issued the alerts - including several 'extreme risk' warnings.
Red alerts have been issued for Monday for the Cordoba, the Guadalquivir valley, Morena and Carzola. Amber 'important risk' alerts have been issued for a number of other regions including Mallorca, Campina, Sevilla, Cadiz and Alcaraz for the same day.
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Red warnings remain in place on Tuesday for Albacete, Teruel and Zaragoza with dozens of more amber alerts still in place on Tuesday. Some amber alerts remain in place on Wednesday but it is expected to cool off.
AEMET's warning said: "A ridge located to the east of the Peninsula, in the vicinity of Algeria, is inducing a flow of southern component in most of the Peninsula and the Balearic Islands. You are introducing a mass of air, of Saharan origin, very hot and dry, accompanied by dust in suspension to a large part of the Peninsula, except to areas of the northwest and north. All of this, together with stability and high insolation characteristic of the time, will cause a rise in temperatures in the coming days, giving lead to a heat wave episode.
"Today, Monday, temperatures will rise significantly in a large part of the Peninsula and the Balearic Islands, except in points in the northeast and the Levante area. Temperature values are expected maximum above normal in a generalized way, exceeding 38C in large areas of the interior of the peninsula and of Mallorca and 40C in areas of the interior of the southern half of the peninsula and even reaching 44C in points of the Guadalquivir valley.
"The temperatures will remain very high during Tuesday, although with some changes. The intensification of the wind from the west and southwest will cause a rise in the eastern peninsula and the Ebro valley, where, as in Mallorca, temperatures can reach 40-43C; and, conversely, decreases in the west and north of the peninsula, more pronounced the further north and west. For another
"On the other hand, in the Guadalquivir valley the very high temperatures will continue, exceeding 42C. These two days, Monday and Tuesday, are the culminating days of this episode in most of the territory.
"For Wednesday, a refreshment is likely in most areas, mainly in the Ebro valley and other areas of the north of the peninsula, as well as in the Balearic Islands, this being less accused in the southern third; except in the southeast where they will continue to rise and you can reach the 42-44 C, reaching this day the highest temperatures of the episode in this area. The minimum temperatures will also be very high during the episode, with tropical nights, above 20C, and even above 25C, in the southeastern half of the peninsula, especially in the southeastern third, and in the Balearic Islands."
The warning adds that temperatures should start to cool off from Thursday.
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