Europe is set to experience its warmest day as temperatures in Spain and Portugal could exceed 48 degrees — breaking all-time Europe record

Europe is set to experience its warmest day as Spain and Portugal look likely to reach temperatures as high as 48-50 degrees Celsius this week.

Weather models are currently calculating extreme temperatures in the Iberian Peninsula.

The heat is expected to build up due to hot air coming up from North Africa — particularly over South Western Europe.

It will be the hottest in the region for 41 years.

Spain’s current record high is 47.3°C and Portugal has previously seen highs of 47.4°C.

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

Forecaster AccuWeather said it would not only be possible to break the highest temperature on the Iberian Peninsula, but also the highest temperature ever recorded in Europe.

Dr Mark Mccarthy, from the UK Met Office said “the peak of the heat looks likely to occur on Saturday, with southern parts of Portugal or perhaps south-western Spain expected to see the highest temperatures. Temperature records for Spain and Portugal may be broken.”

Mccarthy explained that Europe has been experiencing a notable heat wave this summer.

For northern Europe in particular the jet stream has been weaker than usual and located further north. A blocking high pressure system over as then allowed heat wave conditions to develop, he said.

Spanish authorities have started making emergency preparations for the intense heat wave, which is expected to last until at least Sunday.

At least 27 of Spain’s 50 provinces have been declared an “extreme risk” as temperatures look set to begin soaring rapidly.