Spain Confronts First Major Heatwave of the Year, With Temperatures Reaching 45°C
Poinews.com – Although the official start of summer hasn’t arrived, Spain has already endured weeks of sweltering conditions. The situation is set to worsen as the new season begins, with the country entering a heatwave that experts classify as severe. This Sunday, June 21, marks the onset of the first major heatwave of the year, which is expected to escalate over the following days.
The Copernicus climate service notes that the heatwave will initially affect central and western Europe, with Spain experiencing some of the highest temperatures. France is also set to face significant heat, with temperatures nearing 40°C to 45°C in its most exposed regions. This phenomenon is driven by a high-pressure system originating from Africa, which is channeling warm, dry air across the region.
The first signs of the heatwave are expected on Saturday, with temperatures rising. By Sunday, Galicia and the Cantabrian coast may see highs of 38°C, while the Ebro, Tagus, Guadiana, and Guadalquivir river basins could reach 40°C. Meteored forecasts that Monday and Tuesday will be the most challenging days, with nighttime temperatures remaining above 25°C and daytime highs continuing to climb.
Northern regions are particularly impacted, with temperature deviations from seasonal averages reaching 10°C to 15°C, highlighting the atypical nature of this event. José Antonio Maldonado, a meteorologist on ‘COPE,’ emphasized that the temperature spikes this weekend will not mark the height of the heatwave:
‘We haven’t even hit the peak yet,’ he stated on Herrera en COPE.
According to his projections, temperatures will soar in the first half of next week, with some areas potentially surpassing 45°C. Maldonado described the situation as ‘extreme heat’ and cautioned that thunderstorms may become especially intense in certain regions.
