Spain and Portugal will be hit with an extreme heatwave which could see the hottest-ever temperatures recorded in continental Europe.

Archaeological sites with extended summer visiting hours will be shut down in the middle of the day as of Wednesday, and for as long as the heatwave lasts, the Ministry of Culture said yesterday.

Temperatures in Greece were expected to soar on Friday and over the weekend in the first heat wave to hit the country this summer, the national meteorological office warned on Thursday.