A heat wave sweeps the `squares` of winter in Spain... What's the story?

2024-01-27 2024-01-27T10:46:30Z

Arab Weather - On Thursday, Spain witnessed an unusual rise in temperatures, reaching about 30 degrees Celsius , as a result of an unusual heat wave in mid-January, and the Meteorological Agency (EMET) expressed its concern about this “abnormal situation.”

Temperatures recorded record numbers in several regions, reaching 29.5 degrees Celsius in Valencia (east of the country), 28.5 degrees Celsius in Murcia (southeast of the country), and 27.8 degrees Celsius near Malaga in southern Andalusia, and this indicates a breaking of levels. Record local temperatures recorded in January in various regions of the country.

What is winter square?

According to weather experts, the “square” period is known as one of the parts of winter, as it begins on the winter solstice in the northern hemisphere, that is, on December 22 of each year, announcing the beginning of winter, and this period continues until January 31 of the following year, extending for a period of approximately From 40 days , Al-Murabaniyya is considered one of the coldest periods of the winter season, which lasts for three months.

After the end of the “Quadranian”, the “Khamseen” period begins, which extends for 50 days until March 22 of each year, which is the period that precedes the spring equinox. These two periods are part of the four-season cycle during which weather changes accelerate, and they constitute a transition between... The bitter cold and refreshing spring equinox.

Winter passes through two periods: “Arba’in Al-Marai’i and Arba’in Al-Aqrabi”... So what is the story of these two periods?

High temperatures in Spain raise concerns and surprise experts

Spanish Meteorological Agency spokesman Ruben del Campo confirmed on the X platform that temperatures in the country "reached or exceeded 20 degrees Celsius" at about 400 meteorological stations , representing half of the national network.

According to the agency, the temperature did not drop below 10 degrees Celsius during the night of Wednesday Thursday at the Puerto de Navacerada ski resort, located in the Madrid region at an altitude of 1,900 meters above sea level.

Ruben del Campo explained that this level of temperature is “suitable for the middle or end of June,” noting that the current situation is considered “abnormal.” The researcher at the University of Valencia, David Curiel, added that this unusual rise in temperatures during the middle of winter is due to the presence of... A strong anticyclone over the Mediterranean, which also affected southeastern France.

A spokesman told AFP:

“There are no studies yet to evaluate the long-term trend of this type of phenomenon, but it is clear that we are seeing this type of anomaly with greater frequency.”

Spain, accustomed to high temperatures, experiences frequent heatwaves, sometimes outside of summer, worrying scientists.

The country recorded unusual temperatures in December, reaching a peak of 29.9 degrees Celsius in Malaga . These heat waves come in the context of severe drought, especially in Andalusia and Catalonia (east of the country), where the authorities imposed measures to restrict water consumption. Due to the decline in rain in the last three years.

In Catalonia, the level of tanks that collect rainwater for use during the dry months dropped to 17 percent in mid-January, and if it drops below 16 percent, the authorities will be forced to declare a state of emergency, with additional restrictions imposed.