The most terrifying figure is 31.3º

The State Meteorology Agency (AEMET) has reviewed the meteorology last July. We are accustomed to reading on maximum temperatures, extreme rainfall or fast wind gusts, but perhaps the most striking data last month is elsewhere: the minimum temperatures.

31.3º Celsius. We are not talking about the absolute minimum temperature reached last month (the 0.7º Celsius registered in Cap de Vaquèira, Lleida, they have little remarkable), but of the highest minimum temperature of the month. On Thursday 17, the thermometer of the Agüimes station, in Gran Canaria, did not fall from 31.3º.

The event occurred during a warm event which affected large areas of Gran Canaria in the middle of last month. During this event, the forecasts indicated maxims of 40º, something rare in the islands, and led Aemet to activate a red notice due to extreme risk on the island.

Tropical nights, equatorial nights. The problem of high minimum temperatures has been persistent this summer. There have been numerous occasions and wide geographical areas where the night drop in the thermometers has not been enough to let us stand properly.

There are several terms that we use in these contexts, such as tropical nights, referring to the nights in which temperatures do not lower the 20º; and the Equatorial or Torrid Nightsin which it does not get off the 25th. However, in some places, the problem has gone even further, with mercutes that did not even go down from the 30th.

Ensure rest. Reconciling sleep at these temperatures is a difficult task if there is no Fan or air conditioning assistanceso our nighttime rest suffers. That is why, although maximum temperatures usually call our attention more, high minimum temperatures may also be problems.

A worrying trend. Of course, this is a problem that, if the forecasts continue to be fulfilled, will go worse, not only in the long term as a consequence of climate change, also during this month of August that opens with a heat wave that It still affects To a good part of the Peninsula.

The present heat wave It is also bringing high minimum temperatures. Tonight, for example, it is expected that they do not fall from the 20th in various areas of the country, and they will be able to stay above 25 in areas of the Mediterranean, of the southern peninsular half, in the depressions of the Northeast, or even in areas of the northern peninsular, on the plateau and in Galicia.

Not just heat. The new statistics published by the Agency also mention the maximum absolute temperature registered in Spain in July, the 43.3º observed in Granado, Huelva, on Tuesday, July 1, in the first of the heat waves recorded this summer.

The agency’s data also included data that describes the intensity of the tormentous episodes seen in the middle of the month, such as gusts of up to 133 km/h registered in Caspe, Zaragoza, on the 10th; or the 155.4 mm of rain collected on the 12th in Vilafranca del Penedés, Barcelona.

A striking fact if we consider that in the Catalan town, 216.4 mm were collected throughout the month; That is, more than 70% of monthly rainfall in the town occurred in one day.

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Image | ECMWF / Ivan Oboleninov