SPAIN: Spain is expected to experience hot days with temperatures reaching up to 40 degrees Celsius. This is likely to spark a new wave of wildfires due to the arrival of a warm, dry air mass from Africa, atmospheric stability, and sunshine.
Temperatures in the southern Guadalquivir Valley, including Cordoba, are forecast to gradually rise to 38-40 degrees Celsius. The national weather service for Spain has also forecast that, by the end of the week, temperatures would rise throughout the Mediterranean country and reach a peak that is more in line with the average for July than with late April.
A plan of action was unveiled by the government of the central Madrid region on Monday, and it included provisions for air conditioning in health facilities and allowing schools to adjust their schedules to coincide with hotter periods.
Spain has asked the European Union for emergency financing to aid farmers and ranchers in the face of severe drought conditions. The nation had previously received $70 million from the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy’s crisis reserve the previous year to help it deal with the rising cost of raw materials brought on by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
It hasn’t rained much in the country for 36 months in a row. Reservoir capacity is 50%, which is a little higher than it was last year but lower than the average for the previous ten years.
According to the Ecological Transition Ministry, 27% of Spain is currently in a drought “emergency” or “alert,” and water reservoirs across the country are 50% full. In certain situations, farmers in the area have had their water allotments for irrigation reduced by up to 90% because the Guadalquivir River basin is only at 24.8% of its capacity.
The largest producer of olive oil in the world as well as a significant producer of fruits and vegetables, is Spain. Prices for Spanish olive oil have already reached record heights due to the drought.
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