Recently, forecasters urged tourists to be prepared for unpleasant surprises due to the December cold in Europe, because this year, for the first time in the last few years, winter on the continent began with snowfall. However, such a situation is not observed throughout Europe.
As The Independent writes, the other day in Spain, which suffered from several waves of extreme heat this summer, the highest December temperature on record was recorded – 30°C. Thus, during the three days until Tuesday, December 12, the temperature reached 29.9°C in Malaga and 27°C in Valencia.
Meteorologists warn that this trend is likely to be observed in the future as a result of global warming.
Abnormally warm weather has seriously spoiled the ski season in Spain, with mountains normally covered in a meter of snow remaining green as temperature records were broken by almost 5°C in some areas.
A representative of the national meteorological agency Aemet, Ruben del Campo, warned that the heat, combined with forecasts of little rain until the end of February, predicted a “not very good” season for winter sports, which depend on abundant snow, which, once melted, is also the most important water resource for spring sports and summer months.
And although forecasters predict that the abnormal heat will recede in the second half of the week, when the temperature will drop to more normal values for December, the moment for a successful start of the ski season has already been lost – there is simply no snow.