Hot in Spain, 12-14 May 2015

[Simon Culling]

Some very hot weather has been affecting southern Spain during the last few days with a new Spanish and European maximum temperature record for the month of May being set.

The hot spell was well predicted in advance by the major models and expectations were for a high of 43-44*C in the Seville-Cordoba-Granada region. The source of the hot air was northern Africa, but on this occasion, the plume of hot air was only expected to reach Spain and parts of southern France and not extend any further north.

The existing May high temperature for Europe was 40.6*C at Astros, Greece set on 31-5-1988 and for Spain it was 40.1*C at Cordoba on 17-5-2006.

The highest temperature recorded on the 12th this year was 38.2*C in Cordoba so the record was not beaten on this day, but on the following day (Weds 13th May) the record was beaten at a number of sites with 41.2*C at Cordoba Airport and 40.8*C at Seville Airport.

[Simon Culling]

The record was broken again on Thursday 14th May as the hottest air migrated slightly further to the east to the provinces of Valencia and Murcia. The highest temperatures reported by the Spanish Met Office were:

42.9*C at Xativa (Valencia)
42.6*C at Valencia Airport
41.9*C at Ontinyent (Valencia)
41.8*C at Molina de Seguva (Murcia0
41.1*C at Murcia

These are exceptional temperatures with the old record beaten by nearly 3*C.

[Simon Culling]

Neighbouring Portugal also shared in the hot weather with 40.0*C recorded at the southern city of Beja also on the 14th. I think this also broke their May record which is variously quoted as either 37.6*C or 39.5*C.

[Simon Culling]

It appears that the May record for Portugal was broken again on the 28th with 40.2*C recorded at Valdonas Aerodrome, Tomar.

This heat is not making it much further north at the moment.

[Blade]

Simon you are well informed , next week will be again arround 40ºc in southern spain, but june records are a lot harder to beat, there was a big heat wave in the middle of june 1981 =) that broke several records.
http://www.meteopt.com/forum/topico/ond ... 1981.4692/
and that person who told you that must be member of this forum for sure