Unusual warmth in mid-April: Temperatures potentially 15 degrees higher than average during a record-breaking weekend
Record-Breaking Heatwave Sweeps Across Spain
Spain has been experiencing an unprecedented heatwave, with temperatures soaring up to 15 degrees above normal this weekend in much of the country. The sweltering heat has been particularly noticeable in regions such as Álava, Gipuzkoa, Bizkaia, Navarra, La Rioja, Burgos, León, and Ourense, where values have been 12.7 degrees or more above the norm.
Last month, the 30.3 degrees reached on March 22 in O Carballiño (Ourense) stood out as a notable high temperature. However, the record-breaking temperatures experienced since Friday are more typical of June than spring.
The temperature recorded in Tenerife South on Friday is the highest so far in 2024, reaching an astonishing 37 degrees. Numerous weather stations across the country have exceeded 30°C in recent days, with Sunday seeing records of 31.6°C at Girona Airport and 30.9°C in Medina de Pomar, Burgos.
The graphics for this news story were created using provisional data from the open API of the State Meteorological Agency (Aemet). The calculation of the average temperature values is done by applying a weighted average to the data recorded by Aemet at 42 reference stations.
The heatwave is part of a broader pattern of above-average temperatures across Europe during spring 2024, contributing to extreme heatwaves and record wildfires in Spain. Although the exact count of broken records in Spain specifically in April 2024 is not detailed in the search results, the period was characterized by notable temperature anomalies.
Key factors behind the record-breaking temperatures in Spain in spring 2024 include a strong El Niño event that boosted global temperatures and intensified regional heatwaves, a trend of climate warming resulting in more frequent and intense heat extremes across Europe, and local meteorological patterns that exacerbated heat accumulation during spring months.
This rise in mercury has translated into several records for maximum temperatures in April, including the 33.9 degrees in Ourense. At least six out of every ten days so far this year have been warmer than normal. This weekend's heatwave was the seventh exceptional heatwave of 2024.
The lows are also exceptionally high for the time of year, with notable exceptions at La Pinilla ski station in Segovia and Puerto de Navacerrada in Madrid. The calculation of the smoothed normal mean and maximum temperatures for the set of Spain is done by applying a generalized additive model (GAM) to the daily temperatures of the 1991-2020 period.
In January, temperatures started with values typical of early March and ended with an episode of high maximum temperatures that extended to mid-February. At least 138 temperature records have been broken in Spain this year, most of them in January. In the last few days, the average temperature has been around 27.1 degrees, similar to what is expected for mid-June.
The heatwave serves as a stark reminder of the impact of climate change on weather patterns, with record temperatures becoming increasingly common. As the world continues to grapple with the consequences of global warming, it is crucial to implement measures to mitigate its effects and adapt to the changing climate.
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