Andalusia Ties September Heat Record at 45.7 Degrees Celsius Amid Escalating National Heatwave

AEMET reported that Spain experienced its joint-highest September temperature on Thursday, with a reading of 45.7°C recorded in the southwestern town of El Granado as an intense heatwave blankets the nation.

The newly recorded temperature matches the previous September record of 45.7°C established in Montoro in 2016, with both municipalities situated in the southern region of Andalusia.

Thursday’s measurement also represents the highest temperature recorded in Spain this year, as summer-like conditions with temperatures exceeding 40°C have engulfed vast areas of the southern and western regions throughout the week.

Furthermore, AEMET stated on Thursday that Spain underwent its hottest January-to-August period on record, noting “a clear difference” compared to the next four warmest periods, which all occurred in the preceding four years.

The agency emphasized that this serves as “an unmistakable sign that, in Spain, warming is accelerating.”

Previously, AEMET reported that July had been Spain’s joint-hottest month on record.

Extreme heat has been associated with thousands of excess deaths across the continent, with Spain’s public health institute registering nearly 4,500 heat-related fatalities since June 1.

Concurrently, drought and diminished river levels have disrupted economic activity, while temperature records have been shattered across Europe.

Spain is urging the European Commission to prioritize climate adaptation as a crucial economic and security matter, asserting that Europe can no longer depend on reactive measures as extreme weather events become increasingly frequent and costly, according to documents reviewed by Euronews.

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