A summer at the antipodes in terms of weather. While part of France experienced rainy and cool weeks in July, southern Europe is suffocating. The scorching heat wave that hits Spain on Saturday broke the absolute temperature record in this country with 47.4 degrees recorded at
Montoro, in the province of Cordoba (south), according to
state meteorological agency (AEMET).
An absolute record in the history of Spain
“This would be the highest temperature recorded in Spain,” AEMET spokesman Rubén del Campo said on Sunday, stressing that this was provisional data to be validated in the coming days.
This temperature, recorded Saturday at 5 p.m. local, is higher than the previous record recorded on July 13, 2017 at the same place. Shortly after, a temperature of 46.9 degrees was recorded at Cordoba airport.
Twice as many heat waves in the past ten years than before
The wave of scorching heat continued this Sunday in Spain with temperatures above 45 degrees in several regions. These temperatures, far above seasonal norms, are due to the arrival of a mass of very hot air from North Africa, combined with strong solar exposure, according to the meteorological agency.
Between 2011 and 2020, Spain recorded twice as many heat waves as in each of the previous three decades.
Scientists regard repeated heat waves as an undeniable result of global warming and believe that these heat waves are bound to multiply, lengthen and intensify.