Lanzarote's latest heat wave becomes the longest in an October month in 60 years

This is the hottest fortnight for this time of year since 1961, according to the State Meteorological Agency

EFE

October 16 2023 (12:45 WEST)
People enjoying Punta Mujeres on a hot summer day. Photo: José Luis Carrasco.
People enjoying Punta Mujeres on a hot summer day. Photo: José Luis Carrasco.

The heat wave that has hit Lanzarote in particular and the Canary Islands in general in the first half of October could be the longest for this time of year of any that the Archipelago has suffered in the last 60 years.

In fact, it is the tenth to be recorded in the historical series, but what makes it exceptional is its duration.

The data was given this Monday by the spokesman for the State Meteorological Agency (Aemet), Rubén del Campo, who indicated that at the national level the first half of October has been 4.8 degrees warmer than normal, surpassing that of 2017 in which the average was 3.3 degrees above the average.

This is the hottest fortnight for this time of year since 1961.

During the first two weeks of October there were 31 records of warm days and none of cold days within an "anomalously extraordinary" episode of heat, said Del Campo, who has repaired in the heat wave recorded in the Canary Islands.

For the spokesman of Aemet, in "a theoretical climate not altered" are expected about five records of heat and another five of cold a year. However, in the last ten years there have been 183 records of warm days and 7 records of cold days.

"For every record of cold day there are twenty-six of warm day", stressed the meteorologist, who has clarified that until October 9, 2023 is the warmest year in the historical series followed by 2022.

However, faced with the anomalous heat of this beginning of October, the arrival of an upcoming "deep and intense" storm on Thursday will "sweep" the peninsula and leave intense rains, with strong accumulations in large areas of the country, especially in the central and western half.

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