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Spain’s prime minister has warned the country faces continuing “challenges” as climate change continues to bring extreme conditions to the Mediterranean. Reservoirs are about 15 percent below average, and the dry weather has raised fears of more wildfires this summer.
Monday 24 April 2023 at 14:55, UK
Spain could experience its hottest day on record for April this week, with forecasters predicting temperatures as high as 40C (104F).
Record temperatures are expected from Wednesday to Friday, bringing temperatures into July’s normal range.
Extreme conditions are set to follow the driest March in 20 years in some regions, adding to growing concerns about the nation’s water reserves and formally reducing the Spain into a prolonged drought.
Reservoirs are about 15 percent below average capacity, with some shrinking to as little as 26 percent, while the dry weather has raised fears of more wildfires as summer approaches.
Spain’s national weather service, Aemet, said there would be “a gradual entry of very warm and dry air masses from Africa”, resulting in “typical summer values”.
Temperatures in the Guadalquivir valley in southern Spain’s Andalusia region, which is home to cities such as Seville, “could even reach 40 degrees Celsius” on Thursday or Friday, Aemet said.
Temperatures are expected to drop on Sunday and Monday, “ending an unusually high time of year,” the agency said.
In 2011, the highest April temperature in Murcia in southeastern Spain was 37.4C (99.3F).
Temperatures are expected to exceed 30C (86F) across much of southern Spain on Wednesday before continuing to rise.
Residents are being urged to consider how their water supplies are being used as drought continues to plague Spain despite recent cold and wet weather in many other parts of Europe.
Agriculture has also been hit hard, with crops struggling under hot and dry conditions.
Last week, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez warned his country faced continuing “challenges” climate change.
“The Spanish government and I know that the debate around the drought will be one of the core political and territorial debates in our country for years to come,” he said.
Fires rage in eastern Spain
Read more on Sky News:
Europe’s record-breaking heatwave will soon turn into a ‘normal’ summer
Spain has seen three consecutive years of low rainfall and high temperatures, 2022 is the hottest year on record, and the Mediterranean is warming faster than the global average due to climate change.
Last summer, firefighters Efforts to contain wildfires in June With temperatures exceeding 40C (104F) in typically expected weather conditions in August.
The temperature continues to soar through the summer, Pass 45C (113F) in extreme conditions This resulted in many deaths and increased pressure on emergency services.
Dangerous heat levels in 2021 Temperatures in Spain exceed 47C (116.6F) As a heat wave hits southern Europe.
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