Record October temperatures: 33ºC in southern Spain

TEMPERATURES soared to up to an unseasonable 33ºC yesterday (Tuesday), leading to the unprecedented sight of full beaches in mid-October.

The hottest climates, however, were in land-locked provinces such as Sevilla, Córdoba and Badajoz, although east and south coast areas also saw the mercury soar to around 30ºC.

So far, this year has seen the warmest October this century after a mostly-sweltering September and an unusually-cool and wet August.

Tomorrow (Thursday) and Friday, the Guadalquivir Valley – which covers parts of the provinces of Córdoba and Sevilla – are expected to reach 36ºC.

They could even beat the October record set 23 years ago – on the first day of the month in 2004, thermometers in Sevilla reached a whopping 36.6ºC.

Normally, by this time of the year, practically everyone in Spain – even the Canary Islands – has the quilt back on the bed and needs anything from a light jacket to a full winter coat by the middle of October.

Most of the country has seen cloudless skies and bright sunshine this week – conditions expected to continue for at least a few more days, according to the State meteorological agency, AEMET.