Spain warns next days could be hottest for late May since 1950

A "mass of very warm air from north Africa" will bring heat usually seen in July, said AEMET spokesman Rubén del Campo.

Maximum temperatures in some areas will reach "more than 10 degrees above normal for the time of year, especially in parts of the north, east and south", he added.

The southern Andalusia region will swelter under peak temperatures of around 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) and a new all-time heat record for May "cannot be ruled out", said Del Campo.

AEMET wrote on X that "the days from May 29th to June 1st could be the hottest for those specific dates since 1950 at least."

Scientists say climate change driven by human activity is increasing the length, frequency and intensity of extreme weather events such as heatwaves.

The last three years have been the hottest on record in Spain, which is emerging from a years-long drought.

READ MORE: Spain set for first 'heatwave' of the year with 40C forecast in the south