Spain is preparing for one of the hottest days since records began

Spain is bracing for one of the hottest days since records began, with today’s extreme temperatures potentially reaching 45 degrees or more. Virtually the whole country is on alert for high temperatures today (Wednesday), with red warnings issued in parts of Andalusia, Castile and Leon, Castile-La Mancha, Madrid, and the Basque Country. According to Meteored, today is likely to rank as one of the five hottest August days in the last 73 years.

This week the country is experiencing the third heatwave of the summer, which is expected to continue until Saturday. However, it’s predicted to reach its peak either today or tomorrow with temperatures beginning to cool by Friday.

The extreme heat is due to the current atmospheric stability, coupled with an influx of warm, dry air from North Africa and suspended dust particles causing a haze which affects air quality and public health.

AEMET explained in a tweet that the heatwave’s intensity comes from what will probably be one of the warmest air masses to cross the Iberian Peninsula, exceeding most of the maximum values recorded between 1991 and 2020.

Warnings will be set at orange levels in Aragon, Asturias, Cantabria, Extremadura, Navarra, and Rioja, while Catalonia, Galicia, and the interior of the Valencian Community will see yellow warnings.

In the majority of Spain’s interior, temperatures are expected to climb above 40°C, possibly reaching 45°C in Toledo and Jaén. AEMET are forecasting that the average temperature tomorrow will set a record for that date since 1950.

High Temperatures Will Continue Through The Night.
The extreme daytime temperatures will be followed by equally hot nights, with many regions unlikely to dip below 23°C to 25°C, causing discomfort when trying to sleep.

On Monday, Badajoz recorded Spain’s highest temperature, reaching 44.8°C at 5.50pm. This scorching start to August follows a July that was recorded by the Climate Change Service (C3S) of the European satellite system Copernicus as the warmest month ever. July was 0.72 degrees warmer than the 1991-2020 average, and about 1.5 degrees above the pre-industrial average.

In response to this, authorities across most regions are urging citizens to take precautions such as staying indoors during the central hours of the day, closing windows, avoiding outdoor sports, keeping hydrated, using high-factor sun cream, and paying particular attention to vulnerable groups like the elderly, children, and those with chronic illnesses.