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Spain's ongoing heatwave has produced another remarkable weather record, this time in Almería, where meteorologists have confirmed the hottest June night ever recorded in the country.

 

According to the State Meteorological Agency (AEMET), the weather station at Almería Airport registered a minimum temperature of 30.8ºC on Sunday June 21. The reading was taken at 7am and marks the first time a minimum temperature of 30ºC or higher has been recorded during June anywhere in AEMET's mainland observation network.

 

The previous June record for the station stood at 27.1ºC, set in 2015. This latest figure exceeded that by 3.7ºC, underlining the intensity of the current heatwave affecting much of Spain.

 

What makes the situation even more unusual is that it wasn't an isolated event. Temperatures in Almería remained above 30ºC overnight on June 21, 22 and 23, creating three consecutive tropical nights of exceptional intensity.

 

Temperatures at the airport stayed above the 30ºC mark for more than 72 hours after warm easterly winds arrived on Saturday morning. On Sunday, the station recorded an average temperature of 35.3ºC throughout the day, with a peak of 39.8ºC reached shortly before 3pm.

 

Strong winds also contributed to the uncomfortable conditions. Gusts reached 60km/h in parts of Cabo de Gata, 54km/h in Carboneras and 46km/h near Almería Airport, helping to move warm air masses across the province and increasing the feeling of humidity.

 

The record comes during what has already been an extraordinary period of heat across Spain. Meteorologists have noted that June 21 was the hottest such date recorded nationally since at least 1950, when comparable records began.

 

The contrast between different parts of the country has been striking. While residents in Almería struggled through nights that barely dropped below 30ºC, the small village of Salvacañete in Cuenca experienced a completely different reality.

 

Salvacañete recorded a minimum temperature of just 9.6ºC on the morning of June 22. Situated around 1,200 metres above sea level in the Serranía Baja region, the village's mountain climate has allowed temperatures to fall into single figures overnight despite the wider heatwave affecting much of Spain.

 

Across the country, thermometers have been climbing beyond 40ºC in several areas, prompting AEMET to issue orange and red weather alerts and urging people to take precautions during the extreme conditions.

 

Forecasters are warning that the heat is not over yet. High temperatures are expected to continue over the coming days and, if current predictions prove accurate, more records could fall before the heatwave finally begins to ease.

 

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