Southern Spain Prepares for Heatwave as Temperatures Soar to 42 Degrees

southern spain - Southern Spain braces for the first heatwave of the year in late May, with temperatures reaching up to 42 degrees Celsius, following an exceptionally wet spring.

Southern Spain Braces for Heatwave

Southern parts of Spain are gearing up for the first heatwave of the year at the end of May, with temperatures expected to soar to 42 degrees Celsius. This comes after an extremely wet spring in Spain and about three years since many Spanish regions experienced their warmest May on record.

Weather Forecast and Causes

Meteorological institute Aemet's spokesperson, Ruben del Campo, predicts maximum temperatures of over 40°C in some southern and Mediterranean parts of the peninsula starting from Wednesday, with nighttime temperatures not dropping below 20°C. The presence of high-pressure systems over the peninsula, ensuring stable weather with clear skies and abundant sunshine, along with the influx of dry, warm air from North Africa, are contributing to the high temperatures.

The heatwave is expected to affect Southeast Spain, Extremadura with temperatures around 39 degrees, and the Ebro Delta in the northeast reaching 35 degrees. The peak heat days are forecasted to be Thursday and Friday, persisting until Saturday.

While some atmospheric instability might bring clouds and slight cooling, the warmth will persist. Sevilla is expected to have temperatures around 30 degrees on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, rising to 37 degrees on Thursday. The Balearic Islands will also experience temperatures above 30 degrees in the coming days, with the northern regions of Galicia and Cantabria being the exceptions, along with the Canary Islands due to the trade winds blowing.