An early heat wave hits Morocco and the entire Iberian Peninsula – Tahrir

Morocco, Portugal and Spain are experiencing a particularly early heatwave this week, with peaks over 40C expected. Or summer values ​​in mid-April.

Very hot and very fast. This week, Morocco was exposed to an exceptional heat wave for this season, in new evidence of global warming. Between 37 and 41 degrees this Tuesday, April 25, and up to 44 degrees in places expected Thursday, April 27 and Friday, April 28: Temperatures reach record highs at the end of April. And the worst is yet to come. This heat wave is expected to peak on Thursday and Friday, according to the Weather Channel, and temperatures may exceed a degree or two above records already broken on Wednesday.

In some cities in the north of the country, Wednesday’s values ​​were more than 3 degrees higher than previous records. Thus, the city of Tangier broke the record by recording 34.8 degrees. Same for Meknes, 37.2°, Marrakech, 40°, and Mm, 40.1°.

Morocco is not the only country affected by this heat wave, while the region is already suffering from a catastrophic drought. The Iberian Peninsula was also badly affected. In particular, 29 degrees was recorded in the south of Portugal. On the part of Spain, the situation is equally worrying. The south of the country, including Andalusia and the regions of Valencia and Murcia, experience summer values ​​in mid-April, with higher temperatures “6 to 10 degrees” According to the Spanish Meteorological Agency (Aemet) in a press release. In some places, the values ​​exceed “15 to 20 degrees” Seasonal norms, the agency spokesperson added on Twitter. This weekend, temperatures should reach 37 degrees in Spain.

The wave is associated with the arrival of A A mass of very hot and dry air from North Africa.Emmett explained. which leads to “Summer worthy and exceptionally high levels for this period”. A disastrous situation for agriculture, the mainstay of the Spanish economy.

According to Coag, the main farmers’ union, 60% of the country’s farmland is currently in “choked” due to lack of precipitation. Spain also set a record for burned areas since the beginning of the year, and so far, 54,000 hectares have smoked as of April 23, compared to 17,000 hectares on the same date in 2022. Last year was already a record year for fires.