Andalucia was placed under an unprecedented red heat alert on Thursday as temperatures soared beyond 45C.
State weather agency Aemet upgraded its warning for Sevilla to red – the highest possible level – as the mercury reached 45.1C in Tablada.
The extraordinary reading was recorded at 5.10pm, making it the hottest place in Spain during the day, and the hottest temperature ever recorded in September.
The reading also matches the highest temperature recorded anywhere in Spain so far this year, according to local reports, following identical readings in Andujar, Jaen, and Montoro, Cordoba, during June.
Andalucia dominates Spain’s hottest places
The extreme conditions were by no means limited to Sevilla city.
Aemet’s observations showed nine of Spain’s 10 hottest readings on Thursday were recorded in Andalucia.
After the 45.1C recorded at Tablada, Fuentes de Andalucia reached 44.5C, while Moron de la Frontera (Sevilla) and Andujar (Jaen) both hit 44.3C.
Montoro (Cordoba) reached 44.2C, while La Rambla recorded 43.8C. Ecija also surpassed 43C.
The only location outside Andalucia to break into the national top 10 was Fuencaliente in Ciudad Real, where temperatures reached 44.4C.
Thursday’s extraordinary temperatures came as a mass of very warm air from North Africa pushed temperatures well above normal for the beginning of September across much of Spain.
The heat has also brought exceptionally warm nights, offering little relief after sunset. At Sevilla’s Tablada station, Thursday’s minimum was 22.6C.
When will it cool down?
There will be some relief on Friday, although temperatures will remain dangerously high.
The red warning in the Sevilla countryside will be downgraded to orange on Friday, September 4, when Aemet is warning of maximum temperatures of around 41C between 1pm and 9pm.
Conditions are then expected to ease further on Saturday, when the warning drops to yellow, although temperatures could still reach 39C.
Authorities have urged people to avoid prolonged exposure to the sun during the hottest part of the day, drink water regularly and pay particular attention to elderly people, young children and those with chronic illnesses.
