Temperatures in southern Spain today reached just over 28°C, the second highest temperature recorded in January since 1985.
The Spanish government meteorological agency, AEMET, reported that the maximum temperature recorded at an observatory in the Murcia region in the Mediterranean reached 28.2 degrees Celsius.
Elsewhere, provisional data showed the temperature peaking at 28.5 degrees Celsius.
The agency said in a post on the X website that the unusually warm weather was close to breaking records, becoming the second highest value recorded at an observatory for the month of January in 38 years.
Several other parts of Spain also enjoyed temperatures in the 20s, including Alicante which reached a high of 25°C and Granada 26°C.
People put on bikinis and headed to the beach. Photography: Reuters/Eva Manez
The warm weather tempted people outside, with many sunbathing or playing volleyball on a beach in Valencia, where temperatures also reached the mid-20s.
Although they enjoyed the weather, some tourists expressed concern about the unusually high temperatures.
Torsten Petersen (66 years old) said while in Madrid: “We are a little surprised that the weather is so warm… and it is nice for us now, but we do not think it is completely normal.”
Adela, a local pensioner, added: “Those who say there is no climate change just have to look at what is happening: it is either too cold or too warm. I think this is a disaster.”
Photography: Reuters/Eva Manez
Scientists have linked scorching temperatures, dry conditions and winds in many parts of the world, including southern Europe, to climate change.
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Last year it was It has been confirmed as the hottest everAccording to the data, with the global average surface air temperature reaching 14.98 degrees Celsius in 2023 – surpassing the previous record set in 2016.
Photography: Reuters/Eva Manez
In Spain alone, record temperatures have caused successive heat waves that have led to forest fires and droughts.
Temperatures in neighboring Portugal also reached 23C in some areas on Thursday, and meteorological agency IPMA expects Friday to reach 24C – about eight to nine degrees above normal levels.
