Spain melts under the earliest heat wave in over 40 years

Fans, air conditioning and swimming pools were all welcomed Monday in Spain, as the heat wave that hit Spain for the first time in more than 40 years was averted.

According to AEMET forecasters, a cloud of hot air from North Africa has caused temperatures to soar. The suffocating heat wave could continue in Spain for several days, up until June 16-17, just a few days before the official start of summer on June 21.

According to AEMET, this heat wave, which has temperatures exceeding 40 C (104degF in some parts of central and south Spain), is the earliest recorded since 1981.

People rode their bikes through the water fountains, or stayed under the shade as the temperature rose.

For others, however, it was work as usual.

Simone Roma, a 19-year-old pizzaiolo, was making pizzas at Toto e Peppino in Madrid.

"You work hard and keep going because you love what you do. This is my family."

"While extreme heat is not uncommon in June, it is the fact that heat waves have become five-times more frequent in the 21st century," Ruben Del Campo, spokesperson for AEMET, stated Monday.

A warning was also issued by the national weather agency stating that the heat wave could be even more severe due to the presence of sand from the Sahara in the air.

Popular tourist destinations like Sevilla and Cordoba where temperatures exceed 40 degrees are not uncommon during summer months will reach 43 degrees (109.4degF), with Madrid, the capital, sweltering at 41 degrees on Monday.

Extreme temperatures in Spain were a hallmark of last year. In January, snowstorm Filomena paralyzed Spain with temperatures as low -21 C ( -5.8degF ) and record-breaking heat waves during August.

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