Mainland Spain and Portugal Break Temperature Records Amid Unusually Early Heatwave
Key Highlights :
As the scorching heatwave that has swept across mainland Spain and Portugal continues, officials have reported that the two nations have broken their April temperature records. On Thursday, the mercury hit 38.8 degrees Celsius (101.8 degrees Fahrenheit) in the airport in Spain's southern city of Cordoba, beating the previous record of 38.6 C in the eastern city of Elche. In neighboring Portugal, temperatures in the central town of Mora reached 36.9C on Thursday, breaking the record of 36 C set in April 1945 in the northeastern town of Pinhao.
The unusually early heatwave has been driven by a mass of very hot and dry air coming from Africa, raising the risk of wildfires and worsening drought conditions that have already led some farmers in Spain not to sow seeds this year. The Spanish government has launched its forest fire monitoring campaign a month and a half earlier than usual due to the early arrival of scorching temperatures. Blazes have ravaged some 54,000 hectares (133,400 acres) of land so far this year in Spain, compared with just over 17,000 hectares during the same time in 2022.
Last year, Spain experienced its hottest year since records began, with UN figures suggesting nearly 75 percent of its land is susceptible to desertification due to climate change. Water reservoirs are at half their capacity nationally and the COAG farmers' union says 60 percent of farmland is "suffocating" from lack of rainfall. Spain is the world's biggest exporter of olive oil and a key source of fruits and vegetables in Europe.
Experts say climate change driven by human activity is boosting the intensity and frequency of extreme weather events, such as heatwaves, droughts and wildfires. The long-term effects of these changes are yet to be seen, but it is clear that the effects of climate change are already being felt in Spain and Portugal, with the two nations experiencing record-breaking temperatures in April. The heatwave has had a severe impact on the environment, with the risk of wildfires and drought conditions worsening. It is essential that governments and citizens take action to reduce the effects of climate change and protect the environment.
