According to IPMA data, sea temperatures in the Algarve will range between 23 and 24°C through Saturday. View on euronews

Firefighters have been battling to put out blazes across southern Europe in one of the worst summers for wildfires in 20 years

LISBON: The fires raging across Portugal claimed their first victim Friday (Aug 15), when the former mayor of the eastern town of Guarda died fighting fires there, President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa announced.

Firefighters have spent days battling blazes in Greece, Portugal, Spain and elsewhere. Forecasters said temperatures could pass 111 degrees in some places on Thursday.

The UK is experiencing unusual hazy conditions following season's fourth heatwave which has left many wondering about the cause.The Met Office has now revealed that smoke from wildfires in Spain and Portugal is responsible for the hazy skies.

Smoke from wildfires in Southern Europe has brought hazy conditions to the UK, disrupting the current heatwave, forecasters have said. The UK experienced the fourth heatwave of the summer this week, with some areas seeing the mercury climb above 33C in the hottest places.

A severe heatwave continues to grip much of France this Saturday, stretching as far north as southern Brittany, with 54 departments placed under orange alert by Météo-France on the ninth day of a relentless heatwave also affecting the Iberian Peninsula.

The dramatic weather comes as red alerts have been issued for France and Spain with residents urged to stay "absolutely vigilant".