Spain, France and Portugal in the grip of extreme heat
Environment — di Andrea Barolini
A historic heatwave — remarkable for being exceptionally early and widespread — is hitting the peninsula and much of France.
Spain, France and Portugal in the grip of extreme heat
A historic heatwave — remarkable for being exceptionally early and widespread — is hitting the peninsula and much of France.
South-western Europe is experiencing an exceptional heatwave, both for being extraordinarily early and in terms of its geographical extent. Spain, Portugal and France are among those worst affected. The Iberian Peninsula has already been seeing temperatures forecast to reach up to 43 degrees Celsius (in Córdoba, in Andalusia), according to data from the national meteorological agency (Aemet). Its spokesperson Rubén del Campo stressed that this is an extreme episode coming after Spain recorded its hottest May in 100 years.
The role of climate change
In strictly meteorological terms, the phenomenon was triggered by a depression located between the Azores and the Madeira archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean. The weather system has been driving a gradual northward surge of very hot air from the Maghreb towards western Europe since last weekend. The situation is expected to last at least until Sunday the 19th.
Extreme heat is intensifying in Spain and Portugal right now and will spread into France.
A particularly nasty heatwave incoming, especially for the middle of June.
A particularly nasty heatwave incoming, especially for the middle of June.
But beyond the immediate situation, the episode is simply the latest piece of evidence of — and consequence of — global warming. According to scientists, the rise in average temperature across land surfaces and oceans will increase the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events. "Heat this extreme, at this still-spring time of year, is not normal. It is the fault of climate change," Del Campo confirmed.
It is the fourth extreme heatwave in Spain in 10 months
According to Aemet, the nights will also be "tropical", with minimum temperatures in numerous areas of Spain remaining above 25 degrees. Over the past ten months, the European country has already experienced four extreme heatwave episodes, starting with that of August 2021, when the highest temperature ever recorded in the country was reached, with 47.4 degrees in Montoro (also in Andalusia).
In Portugal, the heatwave began on Friday the 10th and is expected to last until the end of the current week. Here too, maximum temperatures are ranging between 30 and 35 degrees and are forecast to exceed 40 degrees in the most exposed areas. A situation that will only worsen the drought already under way.
France is experiencing its earliest heatwave since records began
In France, the scorching air moved in from the south-west on Tuesday 14 June and is progressively spreading across the country. Temperatures in numerous regions are forecast at 35–36 degrees until Friday, but will rise further over the weekend, reaching 38 degrees with peaks of 40 in some areas, according to Météo France. Its meteorologist Frédéric Nathan explained that the heatwave could prove to be "at national level, the earliest since records began".
Spain in grip of heatwave with temperatures forecast to hit 44C theguardian.com/world/2022/jun…
In 35 French départements, water rationing has consequently been introduced. And given the drought that over recent months has left large swathes of the country particularly parched, conditions are considered to be at their most dangerous for the potential outbreak of wildfires. A risk also deemed "extreme" across almost the entire Spanish territory, according to Aemet.