The State Meteorological Agency (Aemet) has issued its first weather warning this summer to warn of an episode of very high temperatures on the Peninsula.

The episode of intense heat will begin on Wednesday, when 38° will be widespread on thermometers, with up to 40°-42° in the Guadiana, Tajo and Ebro valleys and even hitting 42°-44° in Guadalquivir.

The cause is due to a “broad anticyclone at medium and high levels, currently located in the interior of Algeria”, which starting on Wednesday will intensify and extend to the west during the following days, explains Aemet.

The presence of this air mass, added to the native heat due to great atmospheric stability, will cause “a generalised and progressive rise in temperatures in a good part of the peninsular area, mainly between Thursday and the weekend.” It will not be the heat typical of this time of year, but rather “thermal values ​​higher than usual, except in the northwest of the peninsula, where there will be a cooler Atlantic flow.”

It will be hot during the day, but also at night. Minimum temperatures will also be high and will not drop below 24°, in large areas of the southeast and, more specifically, in other areas of the southern half of the peninsula, on Friday and Saturday. In addition, there will be the entry of suspended dust of North African origin, which will affect large areas of the south and the centre of the peninsula starting on Wednesday.