Extreme heat in Spain could break records

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Spain is in the middle of this year’s first heat wave. In several places in the country, temperatures have passed 40 degrees. In parts of western and southern Spain, 43-44 degrees are reported in the next few days.

Thus, the temperature creeps close to the heat record for June. It was set in 1965. Then it was measured 45.2 degrees in Seville in Andalucía.

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It may also be that it is in Seville that the heat record is being broken. There are now warnings about “dangerous temperatures” of over 40 degrees at the beginning of this week.

The reason is, among other things, hot air over North Africa, writes The Guardian.

Spanish health authorities ask the population to stay indoors as much as possible and avoid exercise when it is at its hottest. People are also asked to drink plenty of water and avoid alcohol.

The heat comes earlier

The summers in Spain now start 20 to 40 days earlier than fifty years ago, according to the Spanish Meteorological Institute, Aemet. The reason is global warming.

Heat waves are becoming more and more common. Heat waves are defined as at least three days with temperatures that are above the average for July and August from 1971-2000.

Heat waves are still not common so early in the year. The last time a heat wave came to Spain just as early was in 1981. Since 1975, Spain has had ten heat waves in June. Five of these have been after 2011.

2021 was the warmest and driest year recorded in Spain. On August 14, the highest temperature ever recorded was 47.4 degrees in Montoro. And the last two years are no exception.

– For the first time we have seen eight years in a row with temperatures above average, says a spokesman for Aemet, Rubén del Campo, to The Guardian.

– There is a clear trend that it is getting warmer, he continues.

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