Parts of Murcia reached 44 degrees yesterday

The Region remains on red alert this weekend

Health officials warn the elderly to keep windows shut and drink plenty of water

The state meteorological agency, Aemet, is maintaining the red alert for intense heat across much of the Region of Murcia today, following the hottest day of the year so far yesterday.
The hottest part of the day is between 12 midday and 8pm, with temperatures expected to oscillate around 40 degrees in the inland areas of the region.
The hottest areas will be the Altiplano, North-west, Valle del Guadalentin, Vega de Segura and Lorca, with Águilas the coolest.
The Campo de Cartagena and Mazarrón are also relatively cool at 36 degrees, maintaining a yellow alert.

Yesterday the North-west sizzled Archena, with 44,4 degrees, Calasparra, with 44,3 degrees, Lorca (44,2), Zarcilla de Ramos (44,1),  Jumilla (43,5).Murcia 42,6, and Cieza 42,8.
The coast was cooler, San Javier airport registering 37,4 , Águilas 34 and Cartagena, 30, with cooling breezes along the coastal areas.
Today temperatures will remain high, around 40 inland and in the mid 30's on the coast, cooling off slightly on Sunday, then on Monday the temperatures will drop back down to green, and more tolerable levels.


However, it's not just the hot air causing issues, the hot wind has also created a few incidents of it's own, mainly in the Guadalentin valley area at the foot of the Sierra Espuña.
A number of vehicles were involved in an incident on the A7 near to Alhama de Murcia yesterday afternoon when swirling hot dust reduced visibility, provoking a number of shunts.
Hot winds of 45 degrees picked up  dust from nearby fields and created a mini tornado, a dry storm which brought down trees and power lines in other areas of Alhama and across the Guadalentin Valley.


Image: Aemet, www.aemet.es