Spain clocks preliminary record of 116.96 F

MADRID — Spain set a new provisional heat record of 116.96 Fahrenheit on Saturday as Southern Europe sweltered under a relentless summer sun. Italy put 16 cities on red alert for health risks and Portugal warned 75 percent of its regions that they faced a ”significantly increased risk“of wildfires.

Data from Spain’s State Meteorological Agency said the potential new record was recorded at Montoro, Cordoba, at 5:10 p.m. If confirmed, that would exceed the country’s previous record of 116.42 F, set nearby in July 2017.