February 2024 is expected to be the hottest February ever in the region since records began.
At least that’s the prediction of Vítor Prior, director of IPMA’s Funchal Meteorological Observatory, who, while talking on local radio station 88.8 JMFM, stressed that, since the beginning of this month, record temperatures have been recorded.
“Probably, February 2024 will be the warmest February ever due to the consistently high temperatures,” he acknowledged, adding that, if there are no very significant changes, this will be a record breaking month, similar to the previous month, which was also the hottest January ever. A phenomenon that can be attributed to climate change.
“El Niño will also have influenced and reinforced these air and seawater temperature values. Let’s see if, during the coming months, temperatures will start to stabilise.
It may be good for tourism but it is not good news for the island.
Samantha Gannon
info at madeira-weekly.com
