A sad Record: Mediterranean Sea temperature reaches 33.2 degrees

A buoy located near the island of Sa Dragonera, west of Mallorca (Spain), recorded a sea surface temperature of 33.2 °C. This may be the highest temperature ever recorded in the Mediterranean Sea. This was announced by Aemet, the Spanish meteorological service, which recorded this temperature on Wednesday at 4 p.m.

In the Spanish daily El País, climatologist, meteorologist, and researcher Samuel Biener described this figure as “truly insane.” “The reading taken near Dragonera is, at first glance, the highest since measurements began in the open waters of the Spanish Mediterranean, and probably in the entire western Mediterranean,” the expert said. The water temperature would therefore be the highest ever recorded in the waters bordering Spain, Italy, and France, as well as Morocco and Algeria.

The measurement was taken about three meters below the surface. It reportedly exceeds the previous record of 31.8 °C, recorded at the same location in 2024.“We’re talking about a difference of more than one degree here, which is enormous for seawater temperature,” explains Samuel Biener. “If we take the average temperature between 1982 and today—25 °C—as a benchmark, we’re looking at an anomaly of 8 °C, which is considerable.”

Experts say the Mediterranean is warming rapidly and that temperatures are now well above historical averages. Marine heatwaves are also becoming longer. A warmer sea leads to milder nights along the coasts, intensifies storms, and could provide more energy for future torrential rains when atmospheric conditions are favorable.

Marine ecosystems are also suffering, with mass die-offs among seagrass beds, fish, and crustaceans. Warmer water also promotes the spread of invasive tropical species. Finally, it is changing tourism patterns: vacationers are shifting their trips from the hottest summer months to spring and fall.