logo
Summer hits early as Spain logs 24.08°C in hottest May day on record

Summer hits early as Spain logs 24.08°C in hottest May day on record

Malay Mail02-06-2025
BARCELONA, June 2 — Mainland Spain experienced its hottest May day ever on Friday, with the average temperature surpassing 24 degrees Celsius (75 degrees Fahrenheit), national weather agency AEMET said on Monday.
The average temperature across the country hit 24.08C, breaking the previous record for the month of 23.73C set on May 21, 2022, according to provisional data from the agency.
'This was the hottest day for a month of May across mainland Spain since the beginning of the data series in 1950,' AEMET wrote on social media.
The average temperature on Saturday reached 23.91C, making it the second-hottest May day on record.
A mass of hot air moving north from Africa pushed temperatures in some areas of Spain more than 10C above normal for the time of the year.
Temperatures exceeded 40C in parts of southern region of Andalusia.
While unusual, this is not the first time Spain has experienced exceptionally high May temperatures. Similar events occurred in 2015 and 2022, AEMET said.
'This reflects a scenario where summer-like conditions are arriving earlier and more frequently, even before spring has ended,' said AEMET spokesperson Ruben del Campo.
Scientists say climate change driven by human activity is increasing the length, frequency and intensity of extreme weather events such as heatwaves.
The last three years have been the hottest on record in Spain, which is emerging from a years-long drought. — AFP
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Blazing heat in Iraq as temperatures in Baghdad, south top 50°C
Blazing heat in Iraq as temperatures in Baghdad, south top 50°C

Free Malaysia Today

time13 hours ago

  • Free Malaysia Today

Blazing heat in Iraq as temperatures in Baghdad, south top 50°C

Summer temperatures often climb to 52°C in Iraq, especially in July and August. (EPA Images pic) BAGHDAD : Iraqis grappled today with searing heat in the capital Baghdad and parts of the country's south, where the weather service said temperatures reached 51°C in the shade. Iraq's 46 million people face rising temperatures, chronic water shortages and year-on-year droughts, in a country intensely impacted by the effects of climate change. Summer temperatures often climb to 52°C, especially in July and August. On central Baghdad's bustling streets today, people sought respite from the sweltering heat in front of swirling mist fans set up near restaurants and shops. Some pedestrians drenched their faces with cold water purchased from sidewalk vendors, while drivers had to pull over to the roadside to cool down their engines. The national weather service said the temperature reached 51°C in Baghdad and in areas to the capital's southeast, from the central Wasit province to Dhi Qar, Missan and Basra in the south. Another eight provinces hit 50°C today, with temperatures expected to drop slightly on Wednesday, according to the official Iraq News Agency. In recent years, Iraqis rallied every summer to protest regular power cuts and water shortages that plague their daily lives. Hundreds of people protested on Friday and yesterday near the cities of Hilla and Diwaniyah, south of Baghdad, blocking roads and burning tyres. Iraq's water resources ministry has said that 'this year is one of the driest since 1933', and that water reserve are down to only 8% of their full capacity. Authorities blame reduced river flows in part on upstream dams built in neighbouring Iran and Turkey, which Iraq says have dramatically shrunk the once-mighty Tigris and Euphrates whose waters have been crucial for irrigation for millennia. Temperatures have risen significantly elsewhere in the region, with neighbouring Turkey registering on Saturday 50.5°C in its southeast, a nationwide record. Last week, a severe heatwave in Iran disrupted water and electricity supplies in much of the country.

Sarawak water agencies on high alert amid prolonged hot weather
Sarawak water agencies on high alert amid prolonged hot weather

Malay Mail

time3 days ago

  • Malay Mail

Sarawak water agencies on high alert amid prolonged hot weather

SEBUYAU, July 26 — Sarawak's water supply agencies are on high alert as the state braces for prolonged hot and dry weather, said State Utility and Telecommunication Minister, Datuk Seri Julaihi Narawi. He said all agencies under his ministry including the Rural Water Supply Department (JBALB), Kuching Water Board, Sibu Water Board, and Laku Management Sdn Bhd have been instructed to continuously monitor water sources as part of standard operating procedures (SOPs) to ensure stable and reliable supply for consumers. 'This is part of our ministry's standard operating procedure (SOP) to ensure water supply sources are regularly monitored to maintain service stability and reliability for consumers,' he told a press conference after officiating the Petronas Powering Knowledge: MLNG Bestari Outreach Programme at SMK Sebuyau today. Julaihi said his ministry is also working closely with the Sarawak Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) and stands ready to provide water supply assistance if necessary, although the situation remains under control for now. 'All water treatment plants across Sarawak are operating well and capable of meeting demand,' he said, while noting that disruptions may only occur in cases such as pipeline leaks, either due to aging infrastructure or third-party damage. 'Nevertheless, our agencies are always prepared to respond swiftly to any impact from the hot spell,' he said. Julaihi also urged the public to conserve water and follow any water-saving directives issued by the authorities. Meanwhile, the Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) has issued a heatwave alert for four areas in Sarawak — Sibu, Marudi, Telang Usan, and Limbang — following persistently high temperatures. The alert is triggered when daily maximum temperatures reach between 35°C and 37°C for at least three consecutive days. For updates on the current heatwave status, the public can visit MetMalaysia's official website at — The Borneo Post

Two missing as heavy rains hit Spain's Catalonia
Two missing as heavy rains hit Spain's Catalonia

Free Malaysia Today

time6 days ago

  • Free Malaysia Today

Two missing as heavy rains hit Spain's Catalonia

Spain's weather service said about 10cm of rain fell in the space of several hours near Barcelona. (EPA Images pic) MADRID : Two people were missing in Catalonia Saturday after much of the region in northeast Spain was hit by torrential rains, officials said, briefly forcing the suspension of rail services there. Spain's weather service Aemet said about 10 centimetres (four inches) of rain fell in the space of several hours near Barcelona. Firefighters posted on X that they were looking for two people reportedly swept away by a river in Cubelles, a town some 50km (31 miles) from Barcelona. Spain's Renfe train company suspended all train travel throughout Catalonia for a few hours as a precaution before resuming service later in the day. A hospital in Barcelona was flooded and had to refuse patients, roads were blocked, and a plane that took off from Barcelona for the United States had to turn back after its nose was damaged by hail. Other regions of the north such as Aragon were also hit by heavy rain Saturday. Last October, torrential rains sparked devastating floods in the eastern province of Valencia, killing 225 people and causing widespread destruction, the country's deadliest such disaster in decades.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store