Laurence Dollimore
A WEATHER phenomenon known as the ‘Iberian oven’ could spark the second heatwave of the year in Spain this week.
A mass of warm air will once again blow onto the peninsula from tomorrow, which will be intensified by days of uninterrupted sunshine.
These factors will be paired with very weak winds and high solar radiation, creating the so-called ‘Iberian oven’, bringing highs of up to 44C.
READ MORE: What constitutes a heatwave in Spain?
The term comes from the fact that the Iberian Peninsula, made of mainland Spain and Portugal, essentially begins to generate its own heat due to the extreme conditions.
The most at-risk areas surround the three major valleys of Spain; the Guadalquivir, the Guadiana and the Ebro.
These include large parts of Extremadura, Castilla-La Mancha and inland Andalucia, including Sevilla, Cordoba and Jaen.
All the aforementioned regions are predicted to see highs of 42C tomorrow and Wednesday, and could even reach 44C during the latter.
High temperatures are also expected in central Spain, with temperatures of 40C in parts of Madrid, Zaragoza and the south of Lleida.
Dozens of provinces are on yellow and orange alerts for the extreme heat until at least Wednesday evening.
In the north, the atmosphere will be a little cooler, although thermometers will also rise and remain around 25C.
The coasts will also avoid the oven-like temperatures but will still remain warmer than average.
Marbella will see highs of 31C over the next couple of days, for example, while Alicante it will soar as high as 32C.
