"There is a tendency for the anticyclone, located in the Azores region, to intensify and extend as a ridge toward Central Europe starting on the 24th, creating an easterly flow and, consequently, transporting a mass of hot, dry air over the Iberian Peninsula and the Madeira archipelago," the IPMA explained in a statement.

Thus, after days "with temperatures close to, or slightly below, normal for the time of year on the mainland," which will continue at the beginning of this week, "a significant rise in air temperatures is expected at the end of the week," the same information note indicated.

The IPMA predicts maximum temperatures will rise above "30°C across most of the mainland, and could exceed 40°C in some regions, especially inland."

In the Madeira archipelago, maximum temperatures "could hover around or even exceed 30°C, especially on the southern slopes and in mountainous regions," it added.

The Portuguese Institute of the Sea and Atmosphere admits that there is still “some uncertainty in the intensity and duration of the episode, advising monitoring of forecasts in the coming days”.