As the mercury soared to unprecedented heights, Spain succumbed to a record-breaking spring heatwave, with temperatures reaching a scorching 38.7C in Córdoba airport on Thursday, shattering the previous April record in Europe. The heatwave’s origins lay in a plume of hot, dry air emanating from northern Africa, which spread northwards across Iberia, leaving a trail of sweltering conditions in its wake. Portugal, too, failed to escape the clutches of the heat, registering its own record-breaking temperature on Thursday.
However, as the weekend approaches, the heat is expected to dissipate slightly, affording respite from the intense warmth. Meanwhile, on the other side of the globe, a different story is unfolding in Australia. A low-pressure system is forecast to bring heavy rain to parts of New South Wales, with the focus of the heaviest downpours likely to be to the south of Sydney. Coastal areas can expect to receive well over 100mm of rainfall, while inland regions can anticipate 30-60mm. Strong winds are also expected to sweep across the region, particularly near the coast on Sunday.
Heavy Rain Looms in AustraliaIn the United States, a different kind of meteorological event was unfolding on Wednesday. An area of low pressure brought severe weather and heavy rain to parts of the central and southern plains. A cold front associated with this low pressure system pushed eastward across central Texas, forcing warm, moist air to rise, which in turn sparked the formation of supercell thunderstorms. These storms, bolstered by large amounts of instability, produced strong updrafts that enabled the development of massive hailstones.
One of the largest hailstones recorded during the event was discovered just east of Waco, Texas, measuring an impressive 11.4cm in diameter – roughly the size of a grapefruit. This was caused by a sustained updraft exceeding 100mph. Hailstones with diameters of 5-7cm, similar to those of a tennis ball, fell widely across central Texas, accompanied by gusts of up to 60mph. The phenomenon was not limited to Texas alone, as hailstones with diameters in excess of 5cm were also recorded across much of the Florida peninsula, caused by the convergence of two sea breezes, which created strong uplift.