Southern Spain bakes under hot air blast from Africa

Southern Spain is sweltering under intense heat for a second straight day with thermometers expected to reach well over 100 degrees Fahrenheit (over 40 degrees Celsius)

MADRID -- Southern Spain sweltered under intense heat for a second straight day on Sunday, when thermometers were expected to reach well over 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) in large swathes of the European Union country. A mass of hot air carrying dust and sand from Africa was forecast to push temperatures 5-to-10 degrees Celsius above average in many areas of the country. The State Meteorological Agency issued warnings for extremely hot weather for most of southern and central Spain for the weekend. Forecasts indicate 44 degrees Celsius (111 F) could potentially be hit in several points in southern Spain. Spain’s highest temperature on record is 49 degrees Celsius (120 F).