Parts of Europe are currently experiencing a scorching October, with temperatures soaring well above average and raising concerns about the impact of rising greenhouse gas emissions on the climate. This unexpected heatwave is further delaying the start of the heating season in the region.
Portugal has issued yellow alerts for high temperatures in the coming days. Meanwhile, Spain's capital, Madrid, is expected to reach temperatures above 30C (86F) on both Saturday and Sunday, which is at least 6C higher than normal, according to Maxar Technologies' forecast. Similarly, London, which faced cold and bleak weather during the summer, is predicted to reach at least 22C on three of the next five days, while Paris is forecasted to climb to 26C on Tuesday. Above-average temperatures are also expected in Germany and Italy.
The UK's Met Office spokesperson, Grahame Madge, emphasized the significant impact of climate change on the country's weather, with extreme events becoming increasingly common. Early October temperatures in Great Britain are projected to be around 6C higher than the average.
Portugal's Institute for Sea and Atmosphere warns that the current weather pattern may extend into the following week. Spain has already endured an extraordinary heatwave for six consecutive days, with summer-like temperatures potentially persisting for an unprecedented total of 16 days, according to Aemet, the country's meteorological agency.
Steven Silver, senior meteorologist at Maxar's Weather Desk, observes that the current warm spell is highly unusual for this time of year and may even be approaching record warmth.
In the Atlantic island of Madeira, south of Portugal, a record high for October was recorded in the city of Funchal, with temperatures reaching 34.7C, surpassing the previous high of 34.3C set in October 2014.
As a result of the warm weather, beaches in the greater Lisbon area were packed on Thursday, a national holiday, and are expected to see heavy footfall throughout the weekend as locals and tourists seek to enjoy the last days of summer.
The Portuguese Federation of Lifeguards has issued a warning about the risk of drowning, as many beaches are no longer monitored by lifeguards after the peak summer season ends, as reported by Lusa news agency.
This recent heatwave comes on the heels of scientists confirming that the global average temperature in September broke records by an "extraordinary" margin. The temperature anomaly for the month was approximately 1.7C above pre-industrial levels, surpassing the symbolic 1.5C mark set as a stretch goal in the Paris Agreement.
The main driver of rising temperatures is carbon dioxide emissions from burning fossil fuels. The global average temperature this year has also been influenced by El Niño, a natural climate shift in the Pacific. Additionally, other factors such as a decline in cooling aerosol pollution from ships may be contributing to the incremental increase in temperatures.