Walter Finch
SPAIN’S ‘Iberian oven’ heatwave lived up to its name in central and eastern parts of the country yesterday.
The hottest temperature of Wednesday was recorded in El Granado in Huelva, where the thermometer peaked at 45.6C, according to Aemet.
Spain’s meteorological agency recorded 144 separate sites that beat the 40C mark – around 18% of the country.
Other top shelves of the oven were in Sevilla (Ecija) and Cordoba (Montoro) which recorded 44.9C and 44.7C respectively.
Yesterday’s maximum temperature, although impressive, is still two degrees off the record temperature of 47.6, registered in La Rambla, Cordoba, in August 2021.
Temperatures should ease off slightly today (Thursday), with the entry of a cooler mass of air through the southwest.
The heatwave is forecast to end on Friday, although as is customary in peak-summer Spain, it will still be hot generally.
“There will be no change in temperature in the Balearic Islands, but on the Peninsula they will drop in across almost the entire territory,” said Aemet spokesperson Jesus Riesco.
“Where they do not, they will remain high, but there will be no further increases.”
Going forward into the weekend, Sevilla can of course expect temperatures around 40C, as can Madrid.
There is still an active orange warning for heat in Andalucia and a yellow warning for the Valencia Community.
