ARCHIVED - Temperatures set to soar above 40 in Alicante province this weekend

Alicante province on the Costa Blanca could see scorching temperatures of up to 40 degrees Celsius this weekend.

Alicante province looks set to bask in the highest temperatures recorded so far this year, with up to 40 degrees Celsius likely in most municipalities, including Orihuela, Torrevieja, and Guardamar in the Vega Baja.

Spain's state weather agency Aemet has issued an orange warning for the province this weekend, and predicts an "extreme heat situation" over the next 72 hours, with temperatures of 35 degrees expected on Friday, July 2, rising to 40 degrees by Sunday.

A scorching summer is forecast for all mainland Spain and the Balearics this year, with temperatures around half a degree higher than usual over the next three months, the Aemet state weather agency has forecast.

And approximately 14 particularly hot days, in other words heatwaves, would be "considered normal" says the agency, as the average number of summer days under such conditions has doubled over the last decade.

With regard to Alicante province, while the first weekend of July is expected to see maximum temperatures of up to 40 degrees in inland areas, and a minimum or 32 degrees in coastal towns.

And the province could be in for a few uncomfortable tropical nights as a result as the warm air mass from North Africa extends across the region, and the maritime winds change direction towards the west-southeast.

However, according to the weather agencies, everything indicates a welcome breeze and drop in temperatures is likely from Monday, July 5, when the torrid temperatures of up to 40 degrees are forecast to slip to a more bearable, but still very warm 34 degrees.

IMAGE: Aemet