MADRID/LISBON – Spain experienced unusually warm temperatures for winter on January 25, with a mass of hot air sending the mercury soaring to just above 30C in some areas.
About 400 weather stations, nearly half the country, experienced temperatures of 20 degrees Celsius or above, said Ruben del Campo, a spokesman for the National Weather Service Emet. He wrote on X (formerly Twitter) that the numbers were “abnormal.”
The mercury rose to 29.5 degrees Celsius in eastern Valencia, 28.5 degrees Celsius in Murcia in the southeast, and 27.8 degrees Celsius near Malaga in the south. These temperatures are usually seen in June, not January.
Night temperatures were also higher than average.
At the small ski resort of Puerto de Navacerrada, near Madrid, the mercury did not drop below 10 degrees Celsius on the night of January 24th. The altitude is 1,900 meters, and it is usually covered in snow at this time of year.
University of Valencia researcher David Correll said the winter heat, which is also affecting southeastern France, was caused by the presence of a strong high-pressure system over the Mediterranean Sea.
“While there are no studies yet that have assessed long-term trends in these types of events, it is clear that these types of unusual situations are occurring more and more frequently,” he told AFPTV.
Spain also recorded unusually high temperatures in December, with Málaga reaching a maximum temperature of 29.9 degrees Celsius, setting a national record for the month.
The heat comes amid a prolonged drought affecting large parts of the country, particularly northeastern Catalonia and southwestern Andalusia.
In Barcelona, the capital of Catalonia and Spain’s second-largest city, the water level in its reservoirs dropped to about 17% of its capacity in mid-January.
If the capacity drops below 16 percent, which could be imminent, the region will declare a state of emergency.
In neighboring Portugal, the temperature was highest in the city center of Leiria, reaching 23 degrees Celsius, and the meteorological agency IPMA predicted that the temperature would reach 24 degrees Celsius on January 26. In the north, temperatures rose by 8 to 9 degrees Celsius. It is said to be at a normal level.
“I think it’s because of climate change,” French tourist Jane Dubois told Reuters as she stood along Lisbon’s Tagus River. “We must protect the planet because this is our future.”
Fabio Silvestre from Italy, who was visiting Lisbon with his young daughter, echoed concerns about the climate, saying: “I’m a little worried for my daughter… this kind of weather is not normal.”
As climate change raises global temperatures, scientists warn that heat waves will become more frequent and more intense. AFP, Reuters