Málaga sea temperatures drop 13 degrees in eight days

Sea temperatures in Málaga have experienced a drastic decline, dropping 13.2 degrees Celsius in just eight days. After reaching a peak of 28.8 degrees on August 18, the water temperature fell to a record low for the month of August, measuring 15.6 degrees.

This sudden drop represents a significant departure from the typical August average of nearly 24 degrees. The 15.6-degree reading is the lowest recorded in August by the Málaga Port buoy, surpassing the previous August minimum of 16.3 degrees set in 2014. Such temperatures are more characteristic of April or May.

Experts suggest these fluctuations are influenced by prevailing winds. Francisco Franco, director of the Coastal Sciences Chair at the University of Málaga, noted that wind patterns, such as the Levante, affect how solar radiation heats the upper layer of the sea. While temperatures showed signs of a slight recovery to 17.3 degrees following the drop, local beaches remain colder than usual for this time of year.