A severe heatwave gripped Spain on June 21-22, 2024, sending temperatures above 104 °F across much of the country [1].
These extreme temperatures pose significant risks to public health and infrastructure, particularly in the southern regions where heat stress is most acute.
Weather reports said that temperatures reached as high as 108 °F in southern Spain [1]. Other reports said that temperatures were nearing 40 °C, which is equivalent to 104 °F, as the heatwave progressed [2].
The spike in temperature occurred over two days, with reports of the heatwave surfacing on Sunday, June 21 [2], and continuing through Monday, June 22, 2024 [1]. The heat was most intense in the southern provinces, though the impact was felt across a wide area of the nation.
Meteorologists said the event was due to a mass of hot air moving north from the Sahara [3]. This movement was driven by a strong high-pressure African anticyclone, a weather pattern that created a heat dome over Europe [3].
Such heat domes typically trap warm air over a region for extended periods, preventing cooler air from entering and pushing temperatures to dangerous levels. The interaction between the African anticyclone and the European landmass intensified the spike observed in the Spanish provinces.
“Temperatures reached as high as 108 °F in southern Spain”
The occurrence of a heat dome driven by a Saharan anticyclone illustrates the increasing vulnerability of Southern Europe to North African weather systems. When high-pressure systems trap heat in this manner, it creates a feedback loop that can strain power grids and exacerbate water scarcity in regions already prone to drought.
