Tourists heading to southwestern Europe are being warned to take extra care as record-breaking temperatures are predicted for later this week.

Forecasters are advising holidaymakers in Spain, Portugal and southwest France to prepare for extreme heat by staying inside during the hottest parts of the day and keeping hydrated.

Very hot weather is expected to build up due to hot air coming up from North Africa - particularly over southwestern Europe.

"An area of high pressure will bring dry and sunny weather across Iberia and southwest France with hot air being drawn up from North Africa," Sky weather presenter Isobel Lang said.

"This could lead to potentially historic heat from midweek, reaching a peak into the weekend."


Image: People walk on the banks of the Garonne river in Bordeaux, southwestern France

Spain's record high is 47.3C (117.14F) and Portugal's is 47.4C (117.32F), but these temperatures "could well be beaten", she added.

"Southwest France could see temperatures locally top 40C (104F).

"And 48C (118.4F) is possible across inland parts of Portugal and valleys of southern Spain".

The all-time continental European maximum is 48C, recorded in Athens, Greece, in July 1977.

Image: Tourists relax at the beach in Palma, Mallorca, where temperatures are likely to soar in August

The intensity and duration of the heatwave will affect vulnerable people the most - while British tourists on European holidays may struggle to acclimatise to the sweltering heat.

Disruption to travel is likely, especially on railways, and the threat of wildfires is also likely to increase.

It comes after the deadliest wildfire in Europe since 1900 in Athens earlier this month, killing 86 people.

Image: A packed West Wittering beach during this year's UK heatwave

Meanwhile, the Met Office's 30-day forecast says the UK should expect another long spell of dry, hot weather, with areas set to be "fine and dry with plenty of sunshine" during August.

Thunderstorms and atlantic winds of up to 60mph battered Britain on Friday, breaking the 58-day drought.

Temperatures fell to below 20C and parts of the country saw as much as three inches of rain in what Sky's weather producer Jo Robinson described as a "blip" in this year's British summer.

The mercury will rise steadily with temperatures reaching as high as 30C (86F) in southeastern England on Thursday.

It will be cloudier in the northwest with a risk of rain at time, though much of this area will be fine and dry too.

The weekend will also be hot and dry, especially in the southern half of the UK.