Spain third summer heatwave: Country loved by UK tourists face 45C | World | News
A country loved by British tourists is bracing for temperatures of up to 45C as a third heatwave of the summer threatens to bring the hottest week of the season so far. Spain is set to face another blast of extreme heat, with temperatures forecast to continue climbing before the heatwave intensifies from Tuesday, July 21.
Spain’s State Meteorological Agency (Aemet) has warned the country is expected to enter its third heatwave of the summer, with the extreme conditions currently forecast to last until at least Thursday, July 23. Forecasters have not ruled out adding Monday to the official heatwave period if the latest data supports doing so. The intense heat is being driven by an atmospheric blocking pattern, strengthened by the presence of a cut-off low to the west of the Iberian Peninsula. According to Aemet, the combination is allowing a mass of hot and dry air from North Africa, carrying suspended dust, to settle across large parts of Spain and the Balearic Islands.
Temperatures are forecast to rise gradually before reaching their peak on Thursday, when some areas in the south-eastern third of mainland Spain could approach or even exceed 45C.
Some of the highest temperatures are expected across Andalusia, the Ebro valley, the north-eastern depressions, the Genil basin and inland areas of Mallorca, where maximum temperatures could remain above 40C for several consecutive days.
Forecasters have also highlighted the danger posed by particularly warm nights, which can prevent the body from recovering from heat accumulated during daylight hours.
The danger is expected to be particularly significant around the middle of the day, especially for people carrying out activities outdoors and vulnerable groups, including older people and those with cardiovascular diseases.
People are being urged to take maximum precautions, with Thursday expected to bring the peak of the extreme heat.
The soaring temperatures are also expected to push the risk of forest fires to extreme levels.
The situation could be further complicated by the possibility of dry thunderstorms developing over mountainous areas during the afternoons, potentially producing lightning but very little rain and increasing the risk of further fires breaking out.
Spain’s latest heatwave comes during an already exceptionally hot summer, with average temperatures between June 1 and July 15 reaching 3.3C above normal.
The extreme conditions come as firefighters battle two major wildfires, including a blaze near Orés, Zaragoza, which has burned around 15,400 hectares.
Several towns remain evacuated as crews tackle the fire, which has a perimeter of around 60 kilometres.
A second blaze in the Sierra Norte de Guadalajara has affected nearly 6,000 hectares, with authorities pessimistic about its development.
Officials have warned Spain has entered a “chain of successive heatwaves”, making efforts to manage the country’s growing forest fire risk increasingly difficult.
