A new record water temperature of 33.02 degrees Celsius was registered at a measuring buoy off Mallorca, Spain. Aemet, Spain's national weather service, announced the record temperature at the buoy located near the island of Sa Dragonera. The buoy is operated by the Spanish port authority.
Record water temperature recorded off Mallorca, Spain
Before official confirmation, Spain's state broadcaster RTVE reported that the 33.02-degree reading was the highest ever measured in Spanish waters. Stern also reported that the Mediterranean off Mallorca reached a record temperature of 33 degrees Celsius, referring to a 'Hitzesommer 2026' in its headline.
According to researchers, water temperatures in the western Mediterranean are currently four degrees Celsius above the long-term average. Researchers say human-made climate change is the main driver behind these high Mediterranean water temperatures.
Environmental and weather impacts
The increasingly high water temperatures endanger sensitive maritime ecosystems. The heated Mediterranean evaporates enormous amounts of water and releases gigantic thermal energy into near-ground air layers.
In autumn, when cold upper-level air from the north flows over the moist, warm air above the heated Mediterranean, it rises explosively. This process can lead to heavy rain and severe storms. The rising water temperatures also increase the danger of such weather events.
For locals and holidaymakers, the high sea temperatures mean the coasts do not cool down at night and humidity remains high, making swimming in the sea far from refreshing.
Meanwhile, entire tracts of land continue to burn across Southern and Eastern Europe.
