Scientific projections from the Andalusian Program for Climate Change Adaptation, developed by the Junta de Andalucía (Regional Government of Andalusia), indicate that the Almerian municipality of Vélez-Blanco will experience one of the largest increases in maximum temperature in the entire autonomous community. An increase of up to 5.3 degrees is estimated by the end of this century.
This data does not mean that Vélez-Blanco will become the hottest place in Andalusia, but rather that it will be one of the municipalities where the thermal increase will be most pronounced compared to current values. While other areas already register high temperatures, the northern interior of Almería will suffer one of the most intense changes resulting from global warming.
The study details that Vélez-Blanco will go from an estimated increase of 0.89 degrees in the first decade of the century to a rise of 5.30 degrees between 2091 and 2100. The evolution will be progressive, with higher maximums each decade. This scenario places the municipality alongside other extreme cases such as Úbeda (5.66 degrees), Torrecampo (5.59), Colomera (5.57), or Adamuz (5.42).
Contrary to expectations, the coast of Almería will show a different thermal behavior, with more moderate increases, generally between two and three degrees. Proximity to the Mediterranean acts as a natural regulator, moderating temperatures, an influence that diminishes inland, where municipalities like Vélez-Blanco respond more intensely to climate change.
Scientists clarify that these forecasts refer to an increase in the average maximum temperature, especially during spring and summer, which will translate into more frequent heatwaves and more intense extreme episodes, although differences between years and seasons will continue to exist.
The consequences of the temperature increase will affect key sectors of the province. Inland agriculture will face greater water stress, increased evaporation, and higher irrigation needs, with dryland crops being the most vulnerable. Water management will also become more important due to the expected greater evaporation from reservoirs and aquifers.
The study's authors emphasize that these figures represent a climate scenario based on scientific models of emission and global warming evolution, designed to enable administrations, companies, and citizens to anticipate future changes.
