The sea off Mallorca has warmed as never before since records began
The latest heatwave in Spain has heated the sea around Mallorca to unprecedented levels, according to official records. A buoy in the southwest of the Spanish Mediterranean island recorded a water temperature of 31.87°C on Monday near the small neighboring island of Dragonera, about 30 kilometers west of Palma, the Meteorological Association Ametse announced. The previous record of 31.36°C was set in August 2022.
Meanwhile, temperatures in many parts of Spain have become more bearable than in recent days and weeks. On Wednesday, Mallorca is expected to be hit by a low-pressure system that could bring hail, heavy rain, and thunderstorms. Both Wednesday and Thursday, the national weather service Aemet has issued the second-highest warning level, orange, for the island. Temperatures are expected to drop from well above 30°C to highs of around 25°C. However, it is expected to become warmer again by the weekend.
The Met Office in the UK requested data on the unprecedented sea temperatures from Ametse, as they aim to compare these measurements with global heatwave records. Despite the expected cooler weather, it's crucial to monitor these measurements closely to understand climate change impacts.
