HOLIDAY hotspots in Spain have been put under a red weather alert as temperatures are set to rocket to highs of 44C.
Tourist favorites including Valencia and Alicante have been hit with an “extreme risk” warning by the country’s weather service.
According to Aemet, temperatures could hit 44C today in Valencia’s south – and may even exceed 45C.
Meanwhile, forecasters have warned it could reach 44C in Murcia and 42C in Albacete and Alicante.
Across the rest of Spain, it isn’t set to drop much below the late 30s during the day.
Tourists are advised to frequently drink water – even if they don’t feel thirsty.
Health officials have also warned visitors to avoid drinks with caffeine, alcohol or lots of sugar as they can make you severely dehydrated in hot weather.
They have also urged people to reduce physical activity in the central hours of the day.
Officials recommend wearing light, baggy clothes that allow you to sweat as well as eating light meals that will help replace the salt lost through perspiration.
Holidaymakers are also being told to store any medication they have in a cool place as the severe heat can alter its effects.
Anyone suffering symptoms related to hot weather for more than an hour is urged to seek medical help.
Heatwaves have swept across southern Europe in recent weeks and wildfires erupted in the Spanish island of La Palma in July.
Weather experts have declared 2023 an El Niño year – a natural phenomenon that occurs cyclically and causes fluctuations in the global climate.
The UN’s World Meteorological Organization said it will raise temperatures around the world, and the effect is likely to continue for the rest of the year.
And despite the heat this summer, Europe’s record temperature of 48.8C – recorded in 2021 in Sicily – has not been reached and is currently not forecast to be broken.
