On Friday, May 30th, Aemet announced via Twitter that it was the hottest May day in Spain since record-keeping began in 1950. The following day, Saturday, May 31st, also registered unusually high temperatures.
Preliminary data from Aemet indicates that the average temperature on Friday was 24.08°C, surpassing the previous record of 23.76°C set on May 21, 2022.
This heatwave, impacting the entire Iberian Peninsula through Sunday, resulted in an average temperature of 23.91°C on Saturday, May 31st.
The agency reported temperatures soaring above 40°C in the southern cities of Seville, Ubeda, and Córdoba, driven by a hot air mass from North Africa.
Spain has recorded similar high temperatures in May in the past, particularly in 2015 and 2022.
Aemet spokesperson Rubén del Campo noted, “This trend suggests that summer-like conditions are emerging earlier and with greater frequency, despite spring not yet officially concluding.”
As a nation grappling with climate change, Spain has endured its three warmest years on record within the last four, experiencing multiple heatwaves and unprecedented temperatures.
Additionally, Aemet pointed out that this winter was notably mild, signaling the second consecutive year without a significant cold snap. They highlighted that nine out of the last ten winters have been warmer than average.
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