The scorching heat wave that hits Spain on Saturday broke the absolute temperature record in this country with 47.4 degrees recorded in Montoro, in the province of Cordoba (south of the country), according to the state meteorological agency (AEMET).
"
This would be the highest temperature recorded in Spain,
" AEMET spokesman Rubén del Campo said on Sunday, stressing that this was provisional data to be validated in the coming days.
Read also: Heat wave and very high risk of fires in Spain and Portugal
This temperature, recorded on Saturday at 5 p.m. local time, is higher than the previous record recorded on July 13, 2017 at the same location.
Shortly after, a temperature of 46.9 degrees was recorded at Cordoba airport.
Hot air mass from North Africa
The scorching heat wave continued this Sunday in Spain with temperatures above 45 degrees in several regions.
These temperatures, far above seasonal norms, are due to the arrival of a mass of very hot air from North Africa, combined with strong solar exposure, according to the meteorological agency.
Read also: Fires, extreme rains, heatwave ... Which French cities are most threatened by the climate crisis?
Between 2011 and 2020, Spain recorded twice as many heat waves as in each of the previous three decades. Scientists regard repeated heat waves as an undeniable result of global warming and believe that these heat waves are bound to multiply, lengthen and intensify.