ALARM AS SPAIN SWELTERS

FEARS are rising over what the summer has in store for the Costa Blanca after an unseasonably early heatwave broke Spain’s April records.

As the month was confirmed as the hottest since 1961 when records began, forecasters predicted a doomsday scenario of no rain, perhaps until September.

The high temperatures have also brought the country’s annual Heat Warning campaign forward by two weeks to begin on May 15. In Catalunya, it has already launched.

An alarming 90-plus records were confirmed around Spain across the month for maximum temperatures.

Residents in Cordoba had to endure record-breaking temperatures of 38.8C, beating Spain's highest April record of 38.6C registered in Elche back in 2011.

Monthly records were also set in Alicante when the mercury peaked in the village of Pego at 34.4C.

In Valencia, city temperatures reached a July-like 32C in mid April, but didn’t break the 35C record set in 1945.

Sevilla meanwhile logged 37C, surpassing the 35.4C registered in 1997, while Badajoz broke its previous record of 33.2C with a temperature of 36.1C.

Even Valladolid, further north, broke its previous record by exceeding 30C for the first time in April.

Some parts of the south have experienced temperatures up to 15 degrees above average for the time of year.

Weather agency Aemet has now warned of a ‘very high’ risk of fires and called for extreme caution due to the warm and dry air from North Africa.

As many as 54,000 hectares of land have already been ravaged by fire this year.

Last year, 306,000 hectares were burned, the majority during the sum-

Continues on page 4