Beachgoers are being warned to take extreme care when entering the sea this weekend after a meteorologist warned many could suffer a severe ‘thermal shock’.
After a week of unusually cool weather more typical of winter, temperatures are now soaring across large parts of Spain, with some areas set to hit highs of nearly 40C – especially in Andalucia.
The dramatic spike has already shattered records in parts of the north. In Oviedo, temperatures climbed to 34.2C this week – the hottest temperature ever recorded in the Asturian capital.
Meanwhile in inland Andalucia, highs have reached 38C, particularly in Sevilla province.
As millions prepare to head to the beach for what many will see as the first proper beach weekend of the year, meteorologist Luismi Perez has warned that the sea remains dangerously cold despite the intense heat on land.
‘Anyone going into the sea this weekend is going to get an absolutely massive thermal shock,’ he warned during an appearance on Spanish radio.
The forecaster explained that while air temperatures could exceed 35C in some parts of Spain, sea temperatures in the Atlantic and Cantabrian coast remain as low as 15C or 16C.
The sharp contrast between the scorching sand and cold water significantly increases the risk of what is commonly known in Spain as a ‘corte de digestión’ – more accurately referred to as hydrocution syndrome or peripheral thermal shock.
Despite the popular myth, the condition is not caused by swimming after eating, but by the body reacting suddenly to a dramatic temperature change.
Experts recommend entering the water slowly and gradually cooling the body first by wetting the neck, wrists, ankles and chest before fully immersing yourself.
Holidaymakers are also being urged not to dive straight into the sea or jump in suddenly after spending long periods sunbathing.
The warning comes as Spain continues to experience an unusually intense early summer heat event.
According to Perez, temperatures in cities such as Badajoz have already reached 38C this week, with fresh records potentially set over the weekend.
‘It’s not unusual to have temperature spikes,’ he explained, ‘but what is unusual is how extreme and widespread this one has been.’
Meteorologists say temperatures in some parts of Spain have risen by as much as 15C in just seven days, dramatically increasing the risk of thermal shock for swimmers unused to the sudden heat.
Read more Andalucia news at the Spanish Eye.
