The day of the record high temperatures in Portugal was an early-season heat wave that pushed the country’s heat to record highs for the time of year. The milestone is coinciding with escalating concerns over climate extremes and the rising number of abnormally hot climatic events on the continent.
The national weather agency in Portugal reports that the country had its hottest day this week and that the record heat on May 1st was the hottest daily temperature in the month that has been recorded in the nation. The record high heat has been connected to the strong “heat dome” that has been covering western and central Europe, and that has pushed temperatures up to much higher levels than normal for this time of the year.
In Portugal, several areas recorded temperatures well above May averages, with some places having a summer-like experience rather than a late-spring one, meteorologists reported. The warm air mass came from North Africa and was helping to bring the temperatures to record high levels in the Iberian Peninsula, weather experts said.
It’s been an unusually hot period, not just in Portugal. The surrounding countries of Spain and France have also had unseasonably warm weather, and some parts of the UK have had their warmest May temperatures ever. Heat alerts have been issued, and people are advised to take precautions by authorities across Europe, especially the vulnerable older population and young children.
Climate scientists and researchers say the extreme weather events are becoming more frequent because of climate change. Climate scientists from research institutes agree that global warming has increased the frequency, duration and intensity of spring heatwaves. They attribute the warming trends due to greenhouse gases as one of the reasons for the increasing frequency of temperature records.
Heat waves have also led to concerns regarding wildfire risk, water availability and health concerns with the public. Weather warnings have reportedly been issued by Portuguese authorities, as there is a high risk of fires, especially in the southern part of the country, where dry conditions are forecast.
In the meantime, climate change experts worldwide say record hot weather is likely to persist in the years ahead. Global temperatures will probably continue to rise and could reach or exceed historic levels by the end of this decade, raising the risk of other extreme weather events around the world, the United Nations’ weather agency said on Thursday.
With the summer of 2009 being expected to be warmer than normal in Europe, Portugal’s current May temperature record is yet another testament to the rapid shifts in the climate system and the earlier arrival of extreme heat.
According to the weather agency, Portugal set the record for the hottest May day on Earth, reaching a high of 132.8º F.
Italy is on red alert as France and Portugal have surpassed May’s record for hot weather. Italy is on alert as France and Portugal break May’s record for hot weather.
The UN’s prediction is that temperatures will stay at record levels in 2026-2030, so that is the future we’ll be facing.
