Spain’s new June provisional record is 46C, while Portugal and France are on red alert.

SPAIN has set a new June heat record this weekend, with thermometers soaring to 46C in El Granado, Huelva – just next to the Portuguese border – yesterday afternoon.

The landmark is currently only provisional and awaiting confirmation from Spain’s Meteorological Agency AEMET.

A brutal heatwave is sweeping across Europe. Portugal has been placed on red alert while France and Italy are sweltering in temperatures of over 40C.

The Portuguese Meteorological Institute has sounded the alarm, urging residents and visitors – including the thousands of expats and tourists  on the Algarve – to stay indoors as the mercury climbs. 

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Local reports indicate that Lisbon reached 42C yesterday while other regions, such as Badajoz (just across the Spanish border), hit 44C.

Spain’s south interior is also suffering, with readings unofficially suggesting that the June record has been surpassed. The previous high was 39.7C. 

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Costa del Sol temperatures reached 38C yesterday. Wildfires were a concern, as well as the strain on air conditioning units. 

Official data expected later this week may confirm that June was the hottest on record.

According to the national weather services, France and Italy have also been sweltering. Paris hit 41C yesterday, and Rome reached 40C today. 

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The unusually hot temperatures of the Mediterranean, currently 5C warmer than normal for this time of the year, has only exacerbated the heat. They even pose a threat to France’s nucleonic reactors that struggle to cool in these conditions.

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