Spain swelters in abnormal January heat
Spain is grappling with unusually warm temperatures for a winter month as a mass of hot air pushed the mercury to just shy of 30 degrees Celsius (86 Fahrenheit) in some regions.
Temperatures reached or exceeded 20C at nearly 400 meteorological stations -- almost half the country's total --, the spokesman for national weather agency Aemet Rubén del Campo wrote on X, formerly Twitter, calling the figures an "anomaly".
The mercury rose to 29.5C in the eastern region of Valencia, 28.5C in Murcia in the southeast and 27.8C near Málaga in the south -- temperatures usually seen in June not January.
#FelizJueves. Puedes ver el video con la predicción oficial de #AEMET para hoy (y los próximos días) en https://t.co/KTxlVKLJsC pic.twitter.com/WsVzM6Kk9T
— AEMET (@AEMET_Esp) January 25, 2024
Overnight temperatures have also been warmer than normal.
The mercury did not drop below 10C overnight Wednesday in the small ski resort of Puerto de Navacerrada near Madrid, which is 1,900 metres (6,200 feet) above sea level and is normally covered in snow at this time of year.
The winter heat, which has also affected southeast France, was caused by the presence of a powerful anticyclone above the Mediterranean, said David Corell, a researcher at the University of Valencia.
Máximas hoy:
Chelva: 29.6
Carcaixent: 29.5
Bicorp: 29.1
Novelda: 28.8
Barx: 28.5
Ontinyent: 28.0
Elche/Elx: 27.9
Xàtiva: 27.9
Llíria: 27.8
Alcoy/Alcoi: 27.7
Turís: 27.7
Alicante/Alacant: 27.5
Rojales: 27.1
Villena: 26.8
Podéis seguir los récords en este hilo 👇 https://t.co/JZ8mKCKA5V
— AEMET_C. Valenciana (@AEMET_CValencia) January 25, 2024
"There are no studies yet that have evaluated the long-term trend of this type of event but it is clear that we are experiencing this type of abnormal situation more and more frequently," he told AFPTV.
Spain also recorded unusually high temperatures in December, with the mercury peaking at 29.9C in Málaga, a national record for the month.
The heat comes amid a prolonged drought affecting much of the country, especially the northeast region of Catalonia and the southwest region of Andalusia.
In Catalan capital of Barcelona, Spain's second-largest city, water reservoir levels fell in mid-January to around 17 percent of their capacity.
If they fall below 16 percent of their capacity -- which could be imminent -- the region will declare a state of emergency.
As global temperatures rise due to climate change, scientists have warned that heatwaves will become more frequent and more intense.
READ ALSO: How the heat in Spain is changing tourists' habits
Comments
See Also
Temperatures reached or exceeded 20C at nearly 400 meteorological stations -- almost half the country's total --, the spokesman for national weather agency Aemet Rubén del Campo wrote on X, formerly Twitter, calling the figures an "anomaly".
The mercury rose to 29.5C in the eastern region of Valencia, 28.5C in Murcia in the southeast and 27.8C near Málaga in the south -- temperatures usually seen in June not January.
#FelizJueves. Puedes ver el video con la predicción oficial de #AEMET para hoy (y los próximos días) en https://t.co/KTxlVKLJsC pic.twitter.com/WsVzM6Kk9T
— AEMET (@AEMET_Esp) January 25, 2024
Overnight temperatures have also been warmer than normal.
The mercury did not drop below 10C overnight Wednesday in the small ski resort of Puerto de Navacerrada near Madrid, which is 1,900 metres (6,200 feet) above sea level and is normally covered in snow at this time of year.
The winter heat, which has also affected southeast France, was caused by the presence of a powerful anticyclone above the Mediterranean, said David Corell, a researcher at the University of Valencia.
Máximas hoy:
— AEMET_C. Valenciana (@AEMET_CValencia) January 25, 2024
Chelva: 29.6
Carcaixent: 29.5
Bicorp: 29.1
Novelda: 28.8
Barx: 28.5
Ontinyent: 28.0
Elche/Elx: 27.9
Xàtiva: 27.9
Llíria: 27.8
Alcoy/Alcoi: 27.7
Turís: 27.7
Alicante/Alacant: 27.5
Rojales: 27.1
Villena: 26.8
Podéis seguir los récords en este hilo 👇 https://t.co/JZ8mKCKA5V
"There are no studies yet that have evaluated the long-term trend of this type of event but it is clear that we are experiencing this type of abnormal situation more and more frequently," he told AFPTV.
Spain also recorded unusually high temperatures in December, with the mercury peaking at 29.9C in Málaga, a national record for the month.
The heat comes amid a prolonged drought affecting much of the country, especially the northeast region of Catalonia and the southwest region of Andalusia.
In Catalan capital of Barcelona, Spain's second-largest city, water reservoir levels fell in mid-January to around 17 percent of their capacity.
If they fall below 16 percent of their capacity -- which could be imminent -- the region will declare a state of emergency.
As global temperatures rise due to climate change, scientists have warned that heatwaves will become more frequent and more intense.
READ ALSO: How the heat in Spain is changing tourists' habits
Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.
Please log in here to leave a comment.