Holidaymakers in Europe have been issued a warning as a scorching heatwave could see temperatures soar to the mid-40s in some popular holiday destinations.

A weather phenomenon known as the “Iberian oven” will once again blow onto the peninsula from tomorrow, which will be intensified by days of uninterrupted sunshine.

Weather maps from WXCHARTS show ominous swathes of red unfurling across the continent in just days, with Spain possibly seeing the mercury rise to as high as the mid-40s in several areas on Wednesday, with the hottest temperatures in the south.

The Met Office has issued a warning to those heading to southwest Europe this week.

“Parts of Spain, Portugal and Morocco are in the midst of a heatwave through the early part of this week. Temperatures peaking in the mid to high 40s in places but will ease back towards the end of the week,” the forecaster wrote on X.

The area around Seville could see the mercury hit 44C, as could an area between the Andalucian cities of Cordoba and Jaen.

High temperatures are also expected in central Spain, with temperatures of 40C in parts of Madrid, Zaragoza, and the south of Lleida.

Dozens of provinces are on yellow and orange alerts for the extreme heat until at least Wednesday evening.

Spanish agency Aemet said: “Temperatures are set to be very high for most of this week. Temperatures of 40C to 42C will be reached in parts of the centre and south of the peninsula, and even higher locally.

“Intense heat will also be present in the Canary Islands. Very warm night-time temperatures will be present in much of the territory.”

In some places, it could remain hot into the night, with temperatures reaching 40C from 1pm until 9pm.

Temperatures of up to 42C are possible in interior parts of mainland Portugal over the coming days.

The Portuguese Institute of the Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA) has issued orange high-temperature warnings (the middle level on a three-tier scale) in Beja, Evora, Portalegre, Santarem, and Ssetubal districts July 22-24 and Braga, Braganca, Castelo Branco, Guarda, Vila Real, and Viseu district July 23-24.

Across the rest of mainland Portugal and Madeira there are yellow high-temperature warnings in place from July 22-24.

The Met Office is predicting Lisbon to see temperatures of 37C on Wednesday, while several provinces across Morocco will see temperatures range from 42c to 46C.

According to DGM’s alert bulletin, these temperatures are expected until Wednesday in the provinces of Tata, Zagora, Assa-Zag, Es-Semara, and Errachidia.