Holidaymakers swelter in record-breaking heat

BRITISH holidaymakers are basking in record temperatures as they enjoy their summer holidays amid an extreme heatwave.

Eight places in the centre, south and east of Portugal have broken their local temperature records as Europe swelters.

On Thursday, temperatures reached 45.20C (113.40F) near Abrantes, a town in the centre of the country.

They are set to build across Portugal today, with medical staff and firefighters on standby until the end of the weekend.

In Spain, heat warnings were also issued for 41 of the country’s 50 provinces as temperatures were expected to reach up to 440C (111.20F).

Temperatures in south-west France could also rise to the high 30s.

The mercury is being driven higher by a hot air mass moving north from Africa, bringing dust from the Sahara Desert.

The next few days could see the hottest temperatures recorded in continental Europe.

Luke Miall, a Met Office meteorologist, said the record is 480C (1180F) in Athens, Greece, in 1977.

Tourists were urged to avoid the sun during the hottest part of the day and remember that children are particularly susceptible.

A spokesman for the travel trade association Abta said: “We would advise any tourists setting off to the Iberian peninsula, or anywhere else this weekend where they may experience high temperatures, to take a lead from the locals and avoid spending time in the sun during the hottest part of the day, drink lots of water and apply plenty of sun cream.

“If you go to the beach, go early and when it feels like it’s getting too hot leave, just as the locals do, and go and have a nice lunch in the shade. The reason they do this is because they know how powerful the sun can get in the hottest part of the day and they do everything they can to avoid it.”

It comes as another blast of hot weather returns to parts of the UK.

Met Office meteorologist Alex Burkill said the mercury is likely to reach the high 20s and low 30s again, adding that despite the more comfortable temperatures in recent days “it is not the end of the hot weather for the summer”.

Temperatures could climb back up to 310C in London this weekend, with sunshine returning to most of the country.

In Wales, it’s expected to be somewhat cooler.

A spokesman for the Met Office said: “The north and west of Wales will see cloud and showers whereas the south east will be more likely to see the sunny weather.

“This will remain the same into early next week.

“The average for this time of year is just over 180C whereas on Sunday it could reach 250C in Cardiff.”