Spain and Portugal are in the midst of a record-breaking heat wave, with scorching temperatures reaching about thirty-six degrees Celsius, or ninety-eight degrees Fahrenheit. In fact, this is the hottest May yet, breaking the old record of ninety-five degrees, which was achieved in 1912.
Record Breaking Heat for the Area
Heat waves are prolonged periods of time with high temperatures and scorching hot weather. What can make the heat worse is the humidity, which causes the air to almost feel thick. Humidity is especially a problem in oceanic climates such as Spain and Portugal.
Heat waves can cause crops to fail and power outages to occur due to the overuse of air conditioners. They are also extremely dangerous, taxing the human body in a way it cannot handle. In one year alone, for example, almost 175 people will succumb to the summer heat. In a record-breaking heat wave that occurred in 1980, more than 1,000 people died.
In North America, it is normal to have hot summers. However, when you are east of the Rockies, the humidity becomes a major problem as well. Periods of long, dry heat waves are especially dangerous because people tend to become dehydrated faster.
Death from Heat Wave in Spain And Portugal
Near the Portuguese border in Badajoz, a construction worker dropped dead from the record-breaking heat wave that swept across the country. Juan Francisco Diaz, 32, passed away while digging a ditch. It was over ninety-five degrees at the time. He was taken to the hospital to no avail.
Spain received their record-breaking heat wave from a mass of hot air from North Africa. A cool front is now coming and temperatures should return to normal on Friday. However, the early heat wave in May is a reminder to us all that summer is approaching at a quicker rate than ever. Of course, temperatures are predicted to rise even more so over the next few years due to the effects of global warming.
