Approaching 40°C: Spanish heatwave nears record April high

A major heatwave is engulfing southern Spain, with temperatures exceeding 35°C likely to set a new April record.

On Tuesday, areas in the south and southeast of Spain were already surpassing 30 degrees, with the high of 35°C in the Murcia region.

By Thursday, the heat builds further, approaching 40°C in the Andalusia region around Seville and Córdoba. It is not impossible that the 40-degree mark will be broken.

Just weeks ago, a new Spanish April record of 33.7°C was set in Málaga. Although it will not be quite as hot there in the coming days, it seems certain that a city record will be broken elsewhere.

Even for southern Spain, such temperatures are exceptionally high, especially for this time of year. The long-term average for April highs in the affected regions is between 20 and 25 degrees.

In addition to these temperatures, drought, and wildfires also remain big problems.

Lack of rainfall is a major concern. Due to the dry soils, the land can absorb and retain greater amounts of heat when the sun is shining.

Many farmland areas have already dried up while many water reservoirs see dwindling levels. Some reservoirs are only 10% full, leading to water bans for some farmers close to Málaga.

A combination of drought and heat is also optimal for the outbreak of wildfires. On Monday, authorities warned of a high risk of such an outbreak.

Spain saw the most land burned of any country in Europe in 2022, while around 133,000 acres of land has already been consumed by wildfires this year.