Portugal logged its third hottest June on record, with temperatures surging to 46.6°C in the inland town of Mora on June 29. Experts warn this blistering spike could signal a "new normal" for future summers.
According to the Portuguese Institute for the Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA), June 2025 ranks as the third warmest and fourth driest June since tracking began. Climatologist Jose Alvaro Silva explains that a heat dome\u0000—where hot air from North Africa gets trapped by a high-pressure system\u0000—combined with warm Mediterranean waters and clear skies, fueled this extreme event.
Silva says, "These events are becoming part of our new climate reality." University of Lisbon climatologist Ricardo Trigo adds, "If two years from now we again see warm Mediterranean seas and severe winter-spring drought, the resulting heatwave could be even more intense than this one."
The human toll is already mounting. The Portuguese Directorate-General of Health recorded 69 excess deaths during the alert period, mostly affecting residents aged 85 and above. Seasonal forecasts predict continued above-average temperatures in July and August, setting the stage for more heatwaves.
For young global citizens, entrepreneurs, and travelers, this trend underscores the urgent need for climate-smart solutions\u0000—from energy-efficient cooling technologies and urban shading strategies to sustainable travel plans. As summers heat up, adapting today will shape a resilient tomorrow.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
