The Mediterranean Sea has warmed up considerably in recent weeks and water temperatures are currently just under 2.5 degrees above the long-term average. In some places, the water is over 30°C.

This is due to a series of heatwaves and high-pressure weather with little wind. In most years, stronger winds, such as the Mistral, cause the sea to mix. This effect has been completely absent so far this summer.

The consequences could be devastating. Over the coming months, the weather in the Mediterranean will become more changeable and, above all, more prone to thunderstorms. The warmer the Mediterranean is, the greater the risk of severe weather.