IRISH holidaymakers heading to the sunny coasts of Spain and Portugal are being warned that soaring temperatures could be a danger to their health.
Spanish weather agency AEMET issued a red warning in response to extreme conditions in the cities of Seville and Badajoz where temperatures hit 44 degrees Celsuis this week. An orange warning also remains in place for parts of central and southern Spain where highs of 41C are expected.
In Portugal’s Algarve region – a firm favourite with Irish sun worshippers – the mercury was on course to top 37C yesterday as the European heatwave continued.
Aine McGarvey from Loughanure arrived in Benidorm on Sunday where her boyfriend, Danny O’Donnell, is on a month’s singing contract in a local Irish bar.
She said the temperatures had not dropped below the mid-20s since her arrival.
“It’s 33 degrees here at the minute so I’m still trying to get used to it. Danny is here a week now and is coping a bit better.
“The coolest it gets in the evenings is about 25C which isn’t very low.
“Anyone I’ve been talking to says it would usually be about 33C but they are supposed to be getting more of a heatwave.
“It’s lovely but it’s very warm. If I go and lay by the pool, I can’t stay for more than half an hour.
“After that I have to get inside to the air conditioning.”
The scorching Spanish sun is a far cry from Donegal which seems to have been overlooked by the weather gods.
Met Éireann said yesterday that while most areas will be dry with sunny spells today, there will be a few showers in Ulster.
“It will generally become cloudier for the afternoon and evening and some showers will drift further south. Highest temperatures of 16 to 21 or 22 degrees, warmest in the south, in a light to moderate west to north west wind,” said the national forecast authority.
Things are looking up for the weekend though with temperatures expected to get up to the mid to late-20s through Saturday, Sunday and Monday.
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