El summer it is usually a season that many look forward to. They are 90 days in which the sun invites you to go to spend the day at the beach to spend the day, or to go out for a walk. It is also the time to relax, to go on vacation or to disconnect a bit from the daily routine. But unfortunately sometimes the temperature is too high to be able to enjoy the hottest season of the year.
Here we are going to tell you what the worst heat waves in Spain there has been so far.
What are heat waves?
When we speak of heat waves, we refer to a period of at least 3 days in which temperatures are recorded, both maximum and minimum, abnormally high in at least 10% of weather stations. There are four different levels:
- Verde: when there is no danger to health.
- Yellow: If temperatures are higher than normal, heat waves can be dangerous especially for babies, children, people over 65 years of age and for those with chronic diseases (diabetes or hypertension).
- Orange: when high temperatures persist for several days, affecting risk groups.
- RED: when it can affect the entire population, even the healthy one. They are exceptional cases.
The worst heat waves in Spain
Year 2015
The one that tops the list is the one from 2015. It was the longest recorded until 1975, with a duration of 26 days, from June 27 to July 22. The warmest day was July 6, with 37,6ºC, and affected 30 provinces on July 15.
Year 2003
That summer was one of the worst that Spain and Europe in general have suffered. In the first country, the heat wave lasted from July 30 to August 14, and affected 38 provinces on August 3, 4 and 9. The average temperature of the country was 24,94ºC.
Year 2012
That year saw what is the third most important heat wave. It lasted from August 8 to 11 and affected 40 provinces. The hottest day was August 10, with a temperature of 39,5ºC.
Heat waves are meteorological phenomena that can affect thousands and even millions of people. Remember to always carry water with you to avoid dehydration.