A popular Spanish city beloved by tourists for summer getaways has seen temperatures soaring recently, with this trend expected to continue, making it the perfect winter holiday destination.
Seville, a city in southwest Spain, is known for its scorching temperatures due to its location far from the coast’s cooling influence.
However, recent years have seen a worrying trend of consistently high temperatures, leading weather experts to claim that Seville is “essentially turning into a desert”.
Dubbed the “Iberian oven”, Seville experiences hot air blowing from North Africa, exacerbated by its position in the foothills of nearby mountains, which creates a perfect storm for sweltering heat.
It’s the fourth largest city in Spain and the Andalusian capital, boasting a rich history and culture, drawing over three million tourists a year.
Jim Dale, Senior Meteorological Consultant at British Weather Services, warned Seville “is turning into a desert” as temperatures are predicted to continue soaring.
He told Express.co.uk: “What’s causing the hot weather is when the wind comes in from Africa, across the mountains and into the plains.
“In terms of location, the whole stretch of area, including Seville has all the reasons and rhymes for baking hot weather … You’ll find the temperatures increasing as the summers go on, and essentially, the city is turning into a desert.”
The average daily temperature in Seville is 17C, a marked improvement on England’s 6C for this time of year.
The appealing warm winter temperatures mean Seville regularly gets voted one of the best places to visit when the UK sunshine disappears.Â
It’s home to a renowned Christmas market and is full of shop-lined streets where visitors can spend hours walking around and taking in the beautiful architecture.Â
One person wrote on Tripadviser: “I’ve visited Sevilla a few times before Christmas and would recommend it. I’m intending to go again this year. There’s a lot to see so worth adding an extra night or two.”
Another added: “This is a place to be tasted with tapas. As such, plan to pass your meals hopping from one bar to the next, snacking and sipping in each one as you go.”
A third commented: “Seville is one of the Spanish cities that touched me the most: vibrant, attractive, graceful and most of all… historically rich.”