Highest temperature in Spain yesterday was in Lanzarote at 42.4ºC
Highest temperature in Spain yesterday was in Lanzarote at 42.4ºC
YESTERDAY'S record for the highest temperature was in Lanzarote airport, where the mercury soared to a whopping 42.4ºC – among the hottest days in history for the time of year.
Whilst the month of May is normally known for its mild climate and bright sunshine, hovering around the low 20ºCs, the start of spring 2015 has brought figures more in keeping with July.
Lanzarote airport's top temperature of 42.4ºC was in fact recorded at 17.00hrs – an hour behind the mainland, when it would have been 18.00hrs – as opposed to at midday when thermometers usually rocket.
The Tasarte area of La Aldea de San Nicolás in Gran Canaria registered temperatures of 42.1ºC at 16.00hrs (17.00hrs mainland Spain time), higher even than on Tuesday when it reached 41.2ºC, and making it the second-hottest part of Spain.
Wednesday's hottest place on the mainland was Castuera in the province of Badajoz, in the land-locked western region of Extremadura, at 41.6ºC, followed by Córdoba airport's 41.1ºC, Sevilla airport's 40.7ºC and the town of Fuentes de Andalucía in the province of Sevilla at 40.3ºC.
Today – Thursday – is forecast to be much chillier in the north and north-west with a drop of around 10ºC, thanks to winds coming down from the UK and Ireland clashing with the warm Sahara air that has caused the temporary heatwave in Spain.
But the cooler climates are not predicted to hit the south and south-east until Friday.
Temperatures today will be at their highest in the provinces of Tarragona, Castellón, Valencia, Alicante and part of Murcia and are likely to reach 42ºC, which will make it the hottest day in May since records began.