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Temperatures in Spain and Portugal could exceed 48C this week breaking the all-time record high for Europe.

The Met Office warned holidaymakers jetting off to southern Europe to take precautions in “extreme weather” as temperatures look set to hit the high 40s by Friday.

Forecaster Marco Petagna told the Standard that the Iberian region of Spain and the Algarve, in Portugal, could be hit by the hottest temperatures in 41 years.

Soaring temperatures could also extend into south-west France, the Met Office said.

The current heat record for Europe is 48C recorded in Athens, Greece, in July 1977.

Experts have warned a blast of high pressure from North Africa could see the record met or broken.

Sky News forecaster Isobel Lang said: “Spain's record high is 47.3C and Portugal's is 47.4C but these temperatures could well be beaten.

"Southwest France could see temperatures locally top 40C.

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

Vulnerable travellers including the elderly and young children have been warned to stay out of the sun while others have been advised to use high-factor sun cream and stay well hydrated.

The scorching heat could spark wildfires similar to blazes that swept across Greece last week killing at least 86 people, Spanish forecasters warned.

The forecast comes as record temperatures continue to be set around the world

Last month several record high temperatures were set in the northern hemisphere.

The mercury hit 30.1C in Castlederg in Northern Ireland on June 29 - a new record - while temperatures in Tbilisi, Georgia, and Yerevan, Armenia, rose to 40.5C and 42C respectively in early July.

In the US, the Washington Post reports that heat in Denver, Colorado soared to an all-time high of 40.6C on June 28.

Death Valley, in California, recorded the hottest July ever with average temperatures of 42.2C.

The valley broke its own record from last year which stood at 42.1C.

Millions of visitors flock to Death Valley to bask in searing heat emitted from the canyon.

Temperatures are recorded daily by volunteers from the Furnace Creek Visitor Centre.

Intense heat sweeping the continent is unlikely to affect Britain due to a northerly wind expected to hit the south-east by Friday, Mr Petagna said.

Greece forest fires - In pictures 40 show all Greece forest fires - In pictures 1/40 In this aerial view taken from a drone, showing the devastation caused by Greece wildfires, in the village of Mati, east of Athens AP 2/40 In this aerial view taken from a drone, showing the devastation caused by Greece wildfires, in the village of Mati, east of Athens AP 3/40 In this aerial view taken from a drone, showing the devastation caused by Greece wildfires, in the village of Mati, east of Athens AP 4/40 In this aerial view taken from a drone, showing the devastation caused by Greece wildfires, in the village of Mati, east of Athens AP 5/40 A firefighter wears a flame resistant uniform as wildfire burns in the town of Rafina, near Athens, Greece Reuters 6/40 People taking refuge from fires along the beach in Argyris Akti, Nea Makri, Greece 7/40 8/40 People taking refuge from fires along the beach in Argyris Akti, Nea Makri, Greece 9/40 People taking refuge from fires along the beach in Argyris Akti, Nea Makri, Greece 10/40 People stock up on supplies at a shop in the village of Nea Makri near Athens AP 11/40 People sort supplies for residents rescued from the wildfire in the village of Nea Makri near Athen AP 12/40 Damaged beach facilities at Kineta near Athens Rex Features 13/40 A pall of smoke turns large parts of the sky orange over the ancient Acropolis hill, Rex Features 14/40 A woman reacts as she tries to find her dog, following a wildfire at the village of Mati, near Athens, Reuters 15/40 People sort supplies for residents rescued from the wildfire in the village of Nea Makri near Athen AP 16/40 Burned cars remain after a fire in Argyra Akti, Mati, close to Nea Makri, in Attica, Greece EPA 17/40 People bring supplies for residents rescued from the wildfire in the village of Nea Makri near Athens AP 18/40 Memders of Red Cross give fist-aid to residents after a fire in Argyra Akti, Mati, close to Nea Makri, in Attica, Greece, EPA 19/40 20/40 21/40 A firefighter tries to extinguish hotspots during a wildfire in Kineta, near Athens AFP/Getty Images 22/40 Firefighters and soldiers fall back as a wildfire burns near Athens Reuters 23/40 A house is threatened by a huge blaze during a wildfire in Kineta, near Athens AFP/Getty Images 24/40 A firefighter sprays water on the fire in the town of Mati, east of Athens AP 25/40 A helicopter tries to extinguish flames from the fire in Penteli, north suburb of Athens, Greece EPA 26/40 Cars are blocked at the closed National Road during a forest fire in Greece AFP/Getty Images 27/40 Rescuers wait at the area where bodies were found following a wildfire at the village of Mati, near Athens, Greece REUTERS 28/40 Burnt cars are still in the driveways of destroyed house in Kineta village, west of Athens AP 29/40 People watch a wildfire raging in the town of Rafina, near Athens, Greece Reuters 30/40 Firefighters try to extinguish flames during a forest fire in Neo Voutsa, a northeast suburb of Athens, Greece EPA 31/40 Flames rise as a wildfire burns in the town of Rafina, near Athens AFP/Getty Images 32/40 A house burns during a wildfire in Kineta, near Athens AFP/Getty Images 33/40 A firefighter reacts as a house burns during a wildfire in Kineta, near Athens AFP/Getty Images 34/40 Rescuers and volunteers help local people evacuate the village of Mati during a wildfire near Athens AFP/Getty Images 35/40 Firefighters inspect a burned compound in Mati, east of Athens AP 36/40 A man passes burned cars in Mati, east of Athens AP 37/40 Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras speaks to the media during his visit to the fire brigade's operational centre in Athens, Greece EPA 38/40 A wildfire rages in the town of Rafina, near Athens, Greec Reuters 39/40 A house burns following a wildfire at Neos Voutzas, near Athens, Reuters 40/40 A fireman sprays water outside a burnt house at Kineta village, west of Athens AP 1/40 In this aerial view taken from a drone, showing the devastation caused by Greece wildfires, in the village of Mati, east of Athens AP 2/40 In this aerial view taken from a drone, showing the devastation caused by Greece wildfires, in the village of Mati, east of Athens AP 3/40 In this aerial view taken from a drone, showing the devastation caused by Greece wildfires, in the village of Mati, east of Athens AP 4/40 In this aerial view taken from a drone, showing the devastation caused by Greece wildfires, in the village of Mati, east of Athens AP 5/40 A firefighter wears a flame resistant uniform as wildfire burns in the town of Rafina, near Athens, Greece Reuters 6/40 People taking refuge from fires along the beach in Argyris Akti, Nea Makri, Greece 7/40 8/40 People taking refuge from fires along the beach in Argyris Akti, Nea Makri, Greece 9/40 People taking refuge from fires along the beach in Argyris Akti, Nea Makri, Greece 10/40 People stock up on supplies at a shop in the village of Nea Makri near Athens AP 11/40 People sort supplies for residents rescued from the wildfire in the village of Nea Makri near Athen AP 12/40 Damaged beach facilities at Kineta near Athens Rex Features 13/40 A pall of smoke turns large parts of the sky orange over the ancient Acropolis hill, Rex Features 14/40 A woman reacts as she tries to find her dog, following a wildfire at the village of Mati, near Athens, Reuters 15/40 People sort supplies for residents rescued from the wildfire in the village of Nea Makri near Athen AP 16/40 Burned cars remain after a fire in Argyra Akti, Mati, close to Nea Makri, in Attica, Greece EPA 17/40 People bring supplies for residents rescued from the wildfire in the village of Nea Makri near Athens AP 18/40 Memders of Red Cross give fist-aid to residents after a fire in Argyra Akti, Mati, close to Nea Makri, in Attica, Greece, EPA 19/40 20/40 21/40 A firefighter tries to extinguish hotspots during a wildfire in Kineta, near Athens AFP/Getty Images 22/40 Firefighters and soldiers fall back as a wildfire burns near Athens Reuters 23/40 A house is threatened by a huge blaze during a wildfire in Kineta, near Athens AFP/Getty Images 24/40 A firefighter sprays water on the fire in the town of Mati, east of Athens AP 25/40 A helicopter tries to extinguish flames from the fire in Penteli, north suburb of Athens, Greece EPA 26/40 Cars are blocked at the closed National Road during a forest fire in Greece AFP/Getty Images 27/40 Rescuers wait at the area where bodies were found following a wildfire at the village of Mati, near Athens, Greece REUTERS 28/40 Burnt cars are still in the driveways of destroyed house in Kineta village, west of Athens AP 29/40 People watch a wildfire raging in the town of Rafina, near Athens, Greece Reuters 30/40 Firefighters try to extinguish flames during a forest fire in Neo Voutsa, a northeast suburb of Athens, Greece EPA 31/40 Flames rise as a wildfire burns in the town of Rafina, near Athens AFP/Getty Images 32/40 A house burns during a wildfire in Kineta, near Athens AFP/Getty Images 33/40 A firefighter reacts as a house burns during a wildfire in Kineta, near Athens AFP/Getty Images 34/40 Rescuers and volunteers help local people evacuate the village of Mati during a wildfire near Athens AFP/Getty Images 35/40 Firefighters inspect a burned compound in Mati, east of Athens AP 36/40 A man passes burned cars in Mati, east of Athens AP 37/40 Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras speaks to the media during his visit to the fire brigade's operational centre in Athens, Greece EPA 38/40 A wildfire rages in the town of Rafina, near Athens, Greec Reuters 39/40 A house burns following a wildfire at Neos Voutzas, near Athens, Reuters 40/40 A fireman sprays water outside a burnt house at Kineta village, west of Athens AP

But Brits are still set to bask in 31C heat by the weekend, he said.

He told the Standard: “The heat we had earlier this month did come in from Europe and was pulled in by a southern breeze but this time we are unlikely to be affected.

UK Heatwave - In pictures 76 show all UK Heatwave - In pictures 1/76 People on Woolacombe Beach in North Devon PA 2/76 Birds at dawn are seen flying as St Paul's Cathedral and skyscrapers in the City of London REUTERS 3/76 A dog under an umbrella at the Festival of British Eventing at Gatcombe Park, Gloucestershire PA 4/76 People relax on kayaks at Nene Park in Peterborough, as the warm weather continues PA 5/76 Girls sunbathe in the hot sunny weather during Bestival at the Lulworth Estate in Dorse PA 6/76 People enjoy the sun at Carsington Water in Derbyshire PA 7/76 People in the sea at Croyde Beach in North Devon PA 8/76 A woman stands in a field of sunflowers at Vine House Farm near Spalding, Lincolnshire, as the hot weather continues PA 9/76 Alex Lentati 10/76 People enjoy the warm weather on Boscombe beach in Dorset PA 11/76 Alex Lentati 12/76 People enjoy the warm weather on Boscombe beach in Dorset PA 13/76 People enjoy the sun on the opening day of BBC Countryfile Live at Blenheim Palace near Woodstock, Oxfordshire PA 14/76 People enjoy the warm weather on Boscombe beach in Dorset PA 15/76 Sunbathers at Hyde Parks Serpentine Lido Jeremy Selwyn 16/76 People gather on the beach at Durdle Door in Dorset Getty Images 17/76 Children play in the Diana memorial fountain in Hyde Park Jeremy Selwyn 18/76 Thirsty work in Hyde Park Jeremy Selwyn 19/76 Steaming at the back of Kings Cross station today Jeremy Selwyn 20/76 A boy skips across the beach with his rubber ring during hot weather on Brighton beach. EPA 21/76 Children play next to a fountain in Battersea Park Reuters 22/76 People enjoying the heatwave today on Bournemouth beach in Dorset as the hot weather continues across the UK PA 23/76 Early morning swimmers at the Serpentine pool as the heatwave continue Jeremy Selwyn 24/76 Sunbathing by the Diana Memorial in Hyde Park Jeremy Selwyn 25/76 People enjoying the heatwave today on Tynemouth beach on North Tyneside PA 26/76 People enjoying the heatwave today on Cullercoats beach on North Tyneside PA 27/76 People relax in front of Tower Bridge in London, as the hot weather continues across the country PA 28/76 A stunning sunrise at primrose Hill Jeremy Selwyn 29/76 Beachgoers play in the sea on West Wittering Beach Getty Images 30/76 Wild deer graze in Bushy Park as the heatwave continues across the UK SplashNews.com 31/76 Early swimmers in the Serpentine Jeremy Selwyn 32/76 People enjoy the sunshine in Hyde Park in London, as the hot weather continues across the country. PA 33/76 A young man jumps into the water of the harbor in Brixham, southern England AP 34/76 Beachgoers gather on West Wittering Beach Getty Images 35/76 A general view of Greenwich Park in London EPA 36/76 A couple shelter in the shade of a beach hut on West Wittering Beach during hot weather on the first day of the Summer school holidays Getty Images 37/76 A woman poses for a photo among the flowers in St James Park, London, as the hot weather continue PA 38/76 Beachgoers play in the sea on West Wittering Beach Getty Images 39/76 Scorched green spaces surround Windsor Castle Jeremy Selwyn 40/76 Commuters battle the searing heat at London Bridge Jeremy Selwyn 41/76 Flowers bloom in the sunshine at Whitburn windmill, Sunderland PA 42/76 A man enjoys the warm weather on the beach in Whitstable, Kent PA 43/76 People enjoy the warm weather at South Tyneside Festival in Bents Park, South Shields PA 44/76 General view of boats on the river Thames, including the Queen's rowbarge 'Gloriana' as people enjoy the warm weather during the Thames Traditional Boat Festival at Henley on Thames, Oxfordshire PA 45/76 People enjoy the beach in Margate, Kent, as the warm weather continues across the country PA 46/76 Scorcher: People enjoy the beach in Broadstairs, Kent, on Sunday PA 47/76 A woman soaks up the sunshine PA 48/76 People in boats on Hollow Ponds in Leytonstone PA 49/76 People in the paddling pool in Clissold Park, north London PA 50/76 Office workers enjoy the hot sunny weather while taking their lunch breaks in Victoria Tower Gardens, Westminster PA 51/76 People in the paddling pool in Clissold Park, north London PA 52/76 People enjoy their lunch break in the sun PA 53/76 People swimming and enjoying the sunshine at Brockwell Lido in London Reuters 54/76 Visitors relax on deckchairs in the sunshine on the beach by Brighton Pier Reuters 55/76 A jogger runs in Hyde Park, London PA 56/76 Visitors enjoy the sunshine on the beach by Brighton Pier Reuters 57/76 People relax in the sun during lunchtime as they sit on the steps of The Scoop, a riverside amphitheatre, backdropped by the Tower of London AP 58/76 Young Red Deer cool off in a stream in Richmond Park Getty Images 59/76 A man dives into the water at Warleigh Weir, near Claverton outside Bat PA 60/76 Joggers run beside the Serpentine, in Hyde Park, London PA 61/76 Children cool off in the fountains on the Southbank, London PA 62/76 People relax in the sun at St Paul's Cathedral AP 63/76 Sunbathing on Bournemouth beach in Dorset PA 64/76 Black-capped squirrel monkeys eat iced treats with nuts and berries during the hot weather at London Zoo Reuters 65/76 People sit on the grass enjoying the sunshine in Green Park AFP/Getty Images 66/76 People relax on the beach at Barry Island, Vale of Glamorgan, Wales PA 67/76 Members of the public enjoy the warm weather by the fountains in Trafalgar square AFP/Getty Images 68/76 People relax in the sunshine on the beach in Brighton. PA 69/76 Police horses drink from a water fountain during the hot weather in Green Park PA 70/76 A woman shelters from the sun as she lays in the sunshine in Green Park in London AFP/Getty Images 71/76 The sun rises over London during a week long heatwave SplashNews.com 72/76 Tourists enjoy the sun whilst they sit on the steps near the Tower of London. PA 73/76 Alex Lentati 74/76 People enjoy their lunch break in the sunshine near Tower Bridge PA 75/76 A man beckons a duck whilst he sits in the sun in Trafalgar Square. PA 76/76 Londoners enjoy the sunshine Alex Lentati 1/76 People on Woolacombe Beach in North Devon PA 2/76 Birds at dawn are seen flying as St Paul's Cathedral and skyscrapers in the City of London REUTERS 3/76 A dog under an umbrella at the Festival of British Eventing at Gatcombe Park, Gloucestershire PA 4/76 People relax on kayaks at Nene Park in Peterborough, as the warm weather continues PA 5/76 Girls sunbathe in the hot sunny weather during Bestival at the Lulworth Estate in Dorse PA 6/76 People enjoy the sun at Carsington Water in Derbyshire PA 7/76 People in the sea at Croyde Beach in North Devon PA 8/76 A woman stands in a field of sunflowers at Vine House Farm near Spalding, Lincolnshire, as the hot weather continues PA 9/76 Alex Lentati 10/76 People enjoy the warm weather on Boscombe beach in Dorset PA 11/76 Alex Lentati 12/76 People enjoy the warm weather on Boscombe beach in Dorset PA 13/76 People enjoy the sun on the opening day of BBC Countryfile Live at Blenheim Palace near Woodstock, Oxfordshire PA 14/76 People enjoy the warm weather on Boscombe beach in Dorset PA 15/76 Sunbathers at Hyde Parks Serpentine Lido Jeremy Selwyn 16/76 People gather on the beach at Durdle Door in Dorset Getty Images 17/76 Children play in the Diana memorial fountain in Hyde Park Jeremy Selwyn 18/76 Thirsty work in Hyde Park Jeremy Selwyn 19/76 Steaming at the back of Kings Cross station today Jeremy Selwyn 20/76 A boy skips across the beach with his rubber ring during hot weather on Brighton beach. EPA 21/76 Children play next to a fountain in Battersea Park Reuters 22/76 People enjoying the heatwave today on Bournemouth beach in Dorset as the hot weather continues across the UK PA 23/76 Early morning swimmers at the Serpentine pool as the heatwave continue Jeremy Selwyn 24/76 Sunbathing by the Diana Memorial in Hyde Park Jeremy Selwyn 25/76 People enjoying the heatwave today on Tynemouth beach on North Tyneside PA 26/76 People enjoying the heatwave today on Cullercoats beach on North Tyneside PA 27/76 People relax in front of Tower Bridge in London, as the hot weather continues across the country PA 28/76 A stunning sunrise at primrose Hill Jeremy Selwyn 29/76 Beachgoers play in the sea on West Wittering Beach Getty Images 30/76 Wild deer graze in Bushy Park as the heatwave continues across the UK SplashNews.com 31/76 Early swimmers in the Serpentine Jeremy Selwyn 32/76 People enjoy the sunshine in Hyde Park in London, as the hot weather continues across the country. PA 33/76 A young man jumps into the water of the harbor in Brixham, southern England AP 34/76 Beachgoers gather on West Wittering Beach Getty Images 35/76 A general view of Greenwich Park in London EPA 36/76 A couple shelter in the shade of a beach hut on West Wittering Beach during hot weather on the first day of the Summer school holidays Getty Images 37/76 A woman poses for a photo among the flowers in St James Park, London, as the hot weather continue PA 38/76 Beachgoers play in the sea on West Wittering Beach Getty Images 39/76 Scorched green spaces surround Windsor Castle Jeremy Selwyn 40/76 Commuters battle the searing heat at London Bridge Jeremy Selwyn 41/76 Flowers bloom in the sunshine at Whitburn windmill, Sunderland PA 42/76 A man enjoys the warm weather on the beach in Whitstable, Kent PA 43/76 People enjoy the warm weather at South Tyneside Festival in Bents Park, South Shields PA 44/76 General view of boats on the river Thames, including the Queen's rowbarge 'Gloriana' as people enjoy the warm weather during the Thames Traditional Boat Festival at Henley on Thames, Oxfordshire PA 45/76 People enjoy the beach in Margate, Kent, as the warm weather continues across the country PA 46/76 Scorcher: People enjoy the beach in Broadstairs, Kent, on Sunday PA 47/76 A woman soaks up the sunshine PA 48/76 People in boats on Hollow Ponds in Leytonstone PA 49/76 People in the paddling pool in Clissold Park, north London PA 50/76 Office workers enjoy the hot sunny weather while taking their lunch breaks in Victoria Tower Gardens, Westminster PA 51/76 People in the paddling pool in Clissold Park, north London PA 52/76 People enjoy their lunch break in the sun PA 53/76 People swimming and enjoying the sunshine at Brockwell Lido in London Reuters 54/76 Visitors relax on deckchairs in the sunshine on the beach by Brighton Pier Reuters 55/76 A jogger runs in Hyde Park, London PA 56/76 Visitors enjoy the sunshine on the beach by Brighton Pier Reuters 57/76 People relax in the sun during lunchtime as they sit on the steps of The Scoop, a riverside amphitheatre, backdropped by the Tower of London AP 58/76 Young Red Deer cool off in a stream in Richmond Park Getty Images 59/76 A man dives into the water at Warleigh Weir, near Claverton outside Bat PA 60/76 Joggers run beside the Serpentine, in Hyde Park, London PA 61/76 Children cool off in the fountains on the Southbank, London PA 62/76 People relax in the sun at St Paul's Cathedral AP 63/76 Sunbathing on Bournemouth beach in Dorset PA 64/76 Black-capped squirrel monkeys eat iced treats with nuts and berries during the hot weather at London Zoo Reuters 65/76 People sit on the grass enjoying the sunshine in Green Park AFP/Getty Images 66/76 People relax on the beach at Barry Island, Vale of Glamorgan, Wales PA 67/76 Members of the public enjoy the warm weather by the fountains in Trafalgar square AFP/Getty Images 68/76 People relax in the sunshine on the beach in Brighton. PA 69/76 Police horses drink from a water fountain during the hot weather in Green Park PA 70/76 A woman shelters from the sun as she lays in the sunshine in Green Park in London AFP/Getty Images 71/76 The sun rises over London during a week long heatwave SplashNews.com 72/76 Tourists enjoy the sun whilst they sit on the steps near the Tower of London. PA 73/76 Alex Lentati 74/76 People enjoy their lunch break in the sunshine near Tower Bridge PA 75/76 A man beckons a duck whilst he sits in the sun in Trafalgar Square. PA 76/76 Londoners enjoy the sunshine Alex Lentati

“Temperatures will hit 31C in the south-east by Friday and the weekend but a northerly breeze will hold the hot, dry air sweeping in from Europe at bay.”

Temperatures are set to hit highs of 27C in the south-east and London on Wednesday with clear skies and bright sunshine expected.