Spanish city 'on brink of becoming a desert' as temperatures soar to 30C

23 May 2024 , 08:34

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Seville is currently gripped by a heatwave (Image: CRISTINA QUICLER/AFP via Getty Images)

One of Spain's most popular cities is already sweltering under intense heat, weeks ahead of the official start of summer.

Seville, the bustling hub of Andalusia in southern Spain, was scorched by temperatures reaching 30C this Wednesday, with locals warned to brace for even hotter days ahead. Spanish weather experts predict a continued rise in temperatures across the south, with Meteored forecasting: "Saturday will be sunny and warm.

"It will be a day marked by atmospheric stability, with a general and marked rise in temperatures. In the interior of Andalusia, maximum temperatures will be close to 35C, while the easterly wind will reach strong gusts in the Strait of Gibraltar."

The relentless heat shows no signs of easing on Sunday, expected to be the peak of this heatwave, reports the Express. The forecast continues: "The sun will continue to shine in most of the country, at most with the presence of some high clouds in the skies. Temperatures will continue to rise, reaching a maximum of 35C in places such as Cordoba and Seville and close to that in many other inland areas of the southern half of the peninsula."

Echoing these predictions, the national weather agency Aemet anticipates highs of 35C and 36C in various parts of Andalusia. Positioned near mountain foothills, Seville often endures extreme heat, exacerbated by hot winds from North Africa. This scorching weather could be a sign that Seville is in for another sizzling summer like in 2023, when the mercury soared past 40C on several occasions.

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Last year's intense heat led one weather expert to voice concerns that the stunning city might be "turning into a desert". Jim Dale, senior meteorological consultant at British Weather Services, said previously: "What's causing the hot weather is when the wind comes in from Africa, across the mountains and into the plains." He pointed out that the geographical stretch including Seville is perfectly poised for extreme heat.

With Spain and other parts of Mediterranean Europe experiencing more frequent heatwaves recently, the expert warned that we are "walking into unknown territory" regarding the city's future climate. He noted: "You'll find the temperatures increasing as the summers go on, and essentially, the city is turning into a desert."

Rom Preston-Ellis