Europe could experience its first-ever temperature of 50C this month, according to GFS weather model data, as Spain, Portugal, and France brace for potentially record-breaking heatwaves. The current European record stands at 48.8C, recorded near Syracuse, Sicily, on August 11, 2021.
50C Forecast for Portugal on July 28
Weather maps indicate that southern parts of Portugal could reach a staggering 50C on July 28, which would surpass the country's current record of 47.4C set in Amareleja on August 1, 2003. Coastal regions, where most tourists gather, are expected to be slightly cooler, with highs of 45C along the southern Atlantic coast. However, inland southern areas could widely exceed 48C.
Spain and France Also Face Record Heat
Spain could see its highest temperature ever on July 28, with southwestern areas potentially reaching 49C, including the tourist hotspot of Seville. The current Spanish record is 47.6C, recorded in La Rambla, Córdoba, on August 14, 2021. France may also break its record of 46C (set in Verargues on June 28, 2019) on July 31, with potential 47C highs just inland from the Atlantic coast, including in Bordeaux.
Temperature Anomalies and Wildfires
Temperature anomaly maps for the end of July show vast areas of Portugal, France, Spain, and Italy shaded in dark red and black, indicating temperatures well above the seasonal average. Evacuations were ordered in central and north-eastern Spain over the weekend due to major wildfires in Guadalajara and near Zaragoza, following devastating fires earlier this month that killed 13 people in southern Spain.
Climate Expert Warns of 50C in Europe
Professor Bill McGuire, Emeritus Professor of Geophysical & Climate Hazards at UCL, previously warned that 50C could be reached in Europe before the end of 2026. He stated: "It would be no surprise if 50C was exceeded, either later this summer or next year, when the heating impact of the unprecedented El Niño building in the Pacific will be at its greatest." He added that there was "no doubt whatsoever" climate change was driving the extreme heat, explaining: "Europe is heating faster than any other continent as we continue to add more than 40 billion tonnes of CO2 to the atmosphere every year – equivalent to the weight of 800,000 Titanics."
