By the late afternoon it is uncomfortable to be outside in Seville as the temperatures in Andalucia build towards nearly 40C (104F) at the end of the week. 

This kind of heat is normal in the summer, but not now.

It has made for an extremely hot and sticky Feria de Abril, a colossal festival that takes place in the city every year, when people get dressed up in smart suits and beautiful traditional flamenco dresses and celebrate their culture.

We spoke to primary school teacher Bernard Bossous as he waited for his friends in the shade.

“It’s really hot. I just stay indoors and come out later, maybe 8 or 9pm” he said.

Is he concerned about the impact of climate change driving more frequent extreme heat events?

“Compared to 10 years ago, it’s definitely changing. It is worrying.”

Seville is a beautiful city, tucked away in what is sometimes referred to as the “Iberian oven” because of the hot air that blows in from North Africa. It is no stranger to heat.

In fact, it was the first city to name heatwaves, acknowledging them as the US acknowledges hurricanes.

There are shade cloths rigged above important shopping streets, extensive shady parks and gardens, and even plans to build an elaborate underwater canal system that will help cool those above.

The mayor is laser focused on making sure the city remains liveable for its people and those who visit as climate change bites.

But there are concerns that no matter what adaptation measures are put in place, this area of Spain could become too hot for tourists too soon in the summer season, which would potentially have a huge impact on the economy.

In the Plaza de Espana in the centre of town, we bumped into a group of friends who were visiting from the UK.

Diana Boyce, Jacqui Brown, Gillian Hibbert, Sue Hamer and Chris Day, who all live near Manchester, are here to play in an amateur golf tournament.

“It was exhausting playing in the heat – really too hot,” said Jacqui.

Gillian said: “They haven’t been able to keep the fairways green as there’s obviously not enough water – they are completely brown and I wouldn’t expect that in the spring.”

Would Sue come back here in the summer when it might be even hotter? “No, I wouldn’t I’m afraid, it’s too much,” she replied.

Chris added: “You can take precautions with water and protecting skin and everything, but in the end, you have to go indoors.”

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This episode of extreme heat has arrived after a hot, dry winter across Europe and a punishingly hot and dry summer in 2022.

Spain, in particular, is now suffering from low reservoir and aquifer levels. Some reservoirs in Catalonia are at just 10% capacity.

Water restrictions, particularly for agricultural and industrial use, are already in place across the country.

Read more:
‘Monster’ heatwaves, snowpacks and floods
While Spain bakes, Britain is catching a chill – but summer could be a scorcher

Jose Galan, president of the Field Guide Association of the Donana National Park, walked me through some dunes covered in gorse.

All around us, we could hear popping sounds as the seeds of a native plant species burst.

“They shouldn’t be doing that now – these are the conditions we should have in June,” he said.

But he described how nature always finds a way to adapt.

“But I am more worried about society,” he added.

“The heat and drought because of climate change is having a huge impact on water.

“We don’t have enough, and we use too much. We have to rethink our relationship with water.”

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