Each year, heat waves in Spain are becoming more severe and causing more damage to the population. As a result, they also lead to intense forest fires that consume vast areas of woodland and waste large quantities of water. This year is no different, as we are experiencing a particularly strong heat wave that is, in turn, causing large forest fires.
For this reason, we are going to dedicate this article to telling you about the consequences of the heat wave and the seriousness of forest fires.
2022 heat wave
The European heatwave of June 2022 was an unusually early extreme heat event that affected Portugal, Spain, France, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. In Spain and France, countries already suffering from drought, the high temperatures increased the risk of wildfires. For more information on the impact of this phenomenon, you can consult the article about Spain being the country most affected by heatwaves in Europe and the wildfires that will increase in the coming years.
Yesterday, July 18, 2022, a heat wave ended with historical data that began on the 9th of this month in the Canary Islands and ended after 3 days. On the other hand, in the peninsula and in the Balearic Islands the heat wave began on July 10 and has lasted until July 18. This is one of the most impressive heat waves in history.
This heat wave will be the subject of a study to verify all significant facts. One of the most striking aspects has been its end date. The heat wave was predicted to last between July 10th and 13th, at the earliest. However, it extended for several more days. This uncertainty was caused by the position of a cut-off low (DANA) and its rather unusual movement , which, although very slow, created a period of high temperatures due to a ridge-anticyclone configuration.
As a result, the entire peninsula, or the vast majority of it, has experienced abnormally high temperatures. Between five and six days, temperatures have exceeded 40 degrees Celsius. For example, Córdoba has suffered eight consecutive days with temperatures above 42 degrees and ten more days above 40 degrees. This situation has become a recurring issue, as forest fires will be more dangerous and longer-lasting due to global warming, a topic that deserves immediate attention.
Another major problem with these types of heat waves is the sweltering nights. The heat at night was so intense that it made sleep almost impossible. Many towns and cities across the peninsula experienced very high nighttime minimum temperatures that persisted, exceeding 25 degrees Celsius for several days . Many people went to bed in environments that were around 30 degrees Celsius or even higher. These high temperatures made it difficult to get a good night's sleep.
Madrid is a prime example of these scorching nights. Of the 27 scorching nights recorded this century, more than half have occurred since 2012. This data can help verify the effects of climate change in Spain. Let's explore this further in the article on global warming and its influence on the increasingly frequent heat waves.
Forest fires
Due to the drought and the high temperatures caused by the heat wave, dozens of forest fires have occurred. Many of them are still active today in a day marked by the great heat wave and the wind that is rekindling some of the fires. One of the most worrying fires is that of Pont de Vilomara (Barcelona). This fire has forced to confine the area and devastated more than a thousand hectares in just 6 hours.
We can also find dozens of active wildfires in Castile and León. The most worrying is the Monsagro fire in Salamanca, which has burned more than 9.000 hectares. It is important to stay informed about the situation through the constantly updated wildfire risk map of Spain , as well as to monitor the impact of the fires on the flora and fauna of the affected areas.
On the other hand, we have the Monfragüe fire. This fire has ravaged around 2.500 hectares. Its spread since it started led to the evacuation of some 500 people from three municipalities. In response to this fire, there are plans to invest in shepherds to help manage the large amount of dry pastureland which, combined with the drought, ultimately fueled large fires that spread easily with high temperatures and drought conditions. Furthermore, it is crucial to consider the effects of climate change on this phenomenon.
It goes without saying that the damage to the wildlife of Monfragüe has been devastating, as El Coto, Cantalgallo, La Moheda, and El Cogujón have all been affected— three of them within Monfragüe National Park and the fourth within the buffer zone. National parks boast a wide biodiversity of flora and fauna. This flora and fauna need protected natural spaces that can preserve all their characteristics. However, the fire has destroyed the entire habitat and a large number of populations.
