Summerlike warmth in much of Spain and Portugal will linger, at least for another few days, with no return to near-normal temperatures before next week.

Thursday, much like with earlier days this week, temperatures will soar under widespread sunshine to at least 30 degrees C (86 F) in much of the Iberian Peninsula.

In sunny Madrid, Thursday’s high will be 30 degrees C, which is about what is normal during July, at the height of summer. Friday will be about as warm.

In Portugal, Lisbon will register about 31 degrees C (88 F) on Thursday and again on Friday. Such warmth is normally only an occasionally guest in the city during summer.

Even higher readings will be reached in southwestern Spain and neighboring Portugal, where hot spots will see temperatures about 35 degrees C (95 F) in bright, sunny afternoons of Thursday and Friday.

What underlies the abnormal warmth is exceptional high pressure, which is blocking any cooling from the north as it allows warmth to waft out of northwestern Africa under daily sunshine.

The breakdown of the high will happen during the first half of next week, thereby opening the door cooling from the north and west.