Until today, the highest temperature in Beja in May was in 2006 then the thermometers reached 37.2ºC, climatologist Fátima Espírito Santo told Lusa News Agency.


The highest May temperature in Portugal was 39.5ºC, recorded in Regua, on 28 May 2001, and in Elvas, on 31 May 1999, she added.


The increase in the maximum temperatures across the continent since last weekend is due to a mass of hot dry air coming from North Africa and the interior of Europe, said meteorologist Madalena Rodrigues.