Spain sets unprecedented high temperatures in May
Spain Endures Unseasonably High Temperatures, Breaking Late May Heat Records
Across Spain, temperatures have risen remarkably close to 40 degrees Celsius under the shade this late May. Several cities have reported new heat records for this time of the year, with temperatures ranging between 35 and 39 degrees, as announced by the Spanish State weather service, Aemet.
Experts attribute the growing probability of extreme heat events and their earlier occurrence in the year to human-induced climate change.
Aemet issued an orange heat warning, signifying "serious health risks," for the Sevilla area in Andalusia, owing to the high temperatures affecting children, the elderly, and individuals with health concerns. Madrid and Zaragoza are also reporting sweltering conditions. In contrast, the popular German holiday island of Mallorca experiences a relatively bearable 28 degrees, and the Canary Islands, 25 degrees.
This exceptional early heatwave is expected to persist until, at least, Sunday, with possible heavy hailstorms and strong winds anticipated in northern regions.
The ongoing heatwave underscores the trend of soaring temperatures in Spain, which has experienced significant heatwaves in recent years. The period from 2022 to 2024 was documented as the warmest three-year span on record by Spain's State Meteorological Agency (AEMET).
The increasing global temperatures due to climate change contribute to more frequent and intense heat events. In fact, 2024 was the hottest year globally on record, surpassing 2023. Meteorologists forecast several years of intense heat, suggesting a continuation of this warming trend.
- The record-breaking high temperatures in Spain this late May are linked to climate-change induced extreme heat events, as confirmed by the experts.
- The ongoing heatwave serves as a reminder of the trend in Spain's environmental-science sector, where increasingly severe heat events are becoming more frequent and intense due to global warming.
