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Spain is bracing itself for highs of 42C this week as the country declares its second official heatwave of the year . Aemet, the country's national weather service, warns of very high and persistent temperatures starting on Sunday, 5 July. The extreme heat is forecast to last for much of this week. Considering schools in the UK are breaking up for the summer break later this week, many families will have plans in place to fly to hotspots like the Costa del Sol and the Canary Islands in search of sea and sand. Click here to get the biggest stories straight to your inbox in our Daily Newsletter Aemet states that a "significant level of danger is expected during the central hours of the day, especially for outdoor activities and vulnerable individuals (the elderly, those with cardiovascular disease, etc.)". Very warm nights are also expected, meaning that fire danger level will generally increase to very high level. Given the high temperatures, the possibility of thunderstorms and strong gusts of wind also become more likely. Monday, 6 July, will be the peak of the period, Aemet states. "We expect maximum temperatures to reach 37-39°C in the eastern Cantabrian region, inland Valencia, Mallorca, and both plateaus, potentially exceeding 40°C locally, their website states. "Temperatures of 39-41°C will be repeated in the southwestern quadrant, as well as in the Ebro Valley and northeastern depressions, surpassing 42°C in some areas of the river valleys. "On the other hand, temperatures will tend to moderate in the interior of Galicia, although they will reach 37-39 ºC in the Miño Valley and in inland areas." The forecast continues: "On Tuesday the 7th, the drop in temperatures seen along the Galician Atlantic coast is likely to extend to the western and northernmost parts of the Iberian Peninsula, causing maximum temperatures to fall in Galicia and the Cantabrian region. "Thus, temperatures are expected to reach 36-38°C again in parts of the Miño River basin and in the interior of the Basque Country. The rise in temperatures could be repeated in the eastern third of the peninsula, the northeastern depressions, and the Ebro Valley, potentially exceeding 39-40°C, and even, though with some uncertainty, reaching 42°C. "Across much of the Peninsula and the Balearic Islands, maximum temperatures of 36-39°C are expected, and 39-42°C in the southwestern quadrant." "For Wednesday the 8th, the most likely scenario is that abnormally high temperatures for this time of year will continue, with heatwave conditions persisting and maximums exceeding 39-40°C in the southwestern quadrant, the southern plateau, the Ebro Valley, the northeastern depressions, and in inland areas of the southeast. "From Thursday the 9th onwards, temperatures will begin to drop along the Atlantic coast of the Iberian Peninsula, extending over the following days, at which point the heatwave could be considered over." Meanwhile, here in the UK, the third heatwave of the year is expected to arrive in the coming days. A UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) alert has been issued across East Midlands, South East, South West, East of England, London from 12pm on Saturday, July 4, until 5pm on Wednesday, July 8. The UKHSA says that due to the forecast temperatures, we are likely to see minor impacts across health and social care services, including increased use of healthcare services by vulnerable people, greater risk to life of vulnerable people, increased potential for indoor environments to become very warm, and water-related incidents may increase, including risks from cold-water shock and drowning. The Met Office added that although parts of the UK will hit their heatwave thresholds next week, it is not expected to be a repeat of the late-June heatwave. The national forecaster says: "The position of the high-pressure system means the UK will avoid the exceptionally hot continental air that fuelled the recent record-breaking temperatures across western Europe. "As a result, temperatures are likely to remain in the high 20s or low 30s rather than the mid to high 30s, and humidity levels should be noticeably lower."
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