Spain and Portugal have been placed on high heat alert. Weather warnings suggest temperatures could reach 50 degrees C as a new heatwave engulfs the Iberian Peninsula this weekend and into next week.
Spain’s national weather service, Agencia Estatal de Meteorología (AEMET), has warned that it could be the country’s first severe heatwave of 2025.
Heat warnings
So far, seven provinces have been on official alert, with southern and northeast Spain set to feel the worst impacts.
The combined forces of high pressure and a wave of scorching air from North Africa are the main ingredients of this extreme heatwave.
Andalucia, already suffering from a prolonged spell of warm and dry weather, Granada, Jaen, and Catalonia are regions expected to be most severely impacted.
This weekend and next week, the temperature is expected to reach 45 degrees C or more, and temperatures could reach as much as 50 degrees C.
Very hot temperatures are normal in Spain, but these temperatures are extreme even for Spain, which is more accustomed to the Sahara Desert weather than other southern European countries.
Tropical nights
Warm tropical nights will worsen the suffering, with temperatures struggling to get much lower than 25 degrees C in the worst-impacted areas. This means there will be no relief at night, making sleeping a serious challenge.
The heatwave peak is expected this coming Sunday or Monday, but high temperatures could linger well into next week.
How the body reacts to extreme heat
Spanish authorities have cautioned their citizens about the importance of staying hydrated, avoiding strenuous exercise during the warmest hours of the day, and looking out for vulnerable neighbours, especially the elderly and those with pre-existing conditions.
Prolonged extreme heat can lead to fatal health risks, especially for less active individuals. It puts severe strain on the body, which intensifies if there is no relief, such as cooler nights.
Desertification risks
In a tweet, environmental consultant Peter Dynes labels the heatwave as “unbearable”. He adds that “the heat index potentially exceeding 50°C” warns that climate change threatens to push these already arid areas into desertification.
It was only a month ago that the last heatwave occurred in Spain.
It is unknown at what level this heatwave is influenced by climate change. But scientists have consistently said that we can say with certainty. Climate change influences the frequency and severity of extreme weather events such as heatwaves.
Anders Lorenzen is the founding Editor of A greener life, a greener world.
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