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La Concha beach in San Sebastian crowded with people in July 2021. Manuel Balles via Alamy

Spain swelters in ‘unbearable’ heatwave as drought drives up olive oil prices

Health officials are considering bringing in a heat prevention plan two weeks early.

SPAIN IS SWELTERING in summertime temperatures with highs of 38.8 degrees in the southern Guadalquivir Valley, the country’s national weather service said.

Health officials are considering bringing in a heat prevention plan two weeks early to help regions respond to the unseasonably warm weather conditions.

The State Meteorological Agency in Spain said temperatures are “exceptionally high” for April because of a mass of very warm and dry air coming from North Africa.

With a long weekend coming up, beaches are packed along the coast.

Residents who could not get away from Spain’s inland capital, Madrid, are less lucky.

Loli Gutierrez, who is in her 70s, said she is worried about what conditions will be like when summer comes.

“This is already unbearable”, she told.

“We are only in April. If this happening in April, how is it going to be June?”

Last year was Spain’s hottest and sixth driest since records began, despite the presence of weather phenomenon La Nina, which slightly dampened global average temperatures.

The Spanish government has requested emergency funds from the European Union to support farmers amid extreme drought conditions in the country’s agricultural heartlands, including the Guadalquivir Valley.

The world’s biggest exporter of olive oil, Spain is also an important producer of fruits and vegetables for the European market.

The drought has already driven up prices of Spanish olive oil to record levels.

Currently, 27 per cent of Spanish territory is classified as in a drought “emergency” or “alert”, according to the Ecological Transition Ministry, and water reserves are at 50 per cent of capacity nationally.

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59 Comments
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    Mute Steve
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    Apr 28th 2023, 9:17 PM

    Yet another article trying to stoke the never ending rage machine. Let me guess, the solution to fixing the weather is more carbon taxes on working people, right? Or maybe deny us cheap flights to Spain. That’ll solve it.

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    Mute eoin fitzpatrick
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    Apr 28th 2023, 9:20 PM

    @Steve: you don’t think they should report on this disaster Spain is facing? Wtf is wrong with commenters on this site?
    You’ll know all about it when food prices hit the roof because crops are failing in Spain and elsewhere.

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    Mute Lad
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    Apr 28th 2023, 9:21 PM

    @Steve: you don’t like facts don’t go online.

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    Mute Bert Carolan
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    Apr 28th 2023, 9:24 PM

    @Steve: You right, big conspiracy.

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    Mute John Bathe
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    Apr 28th 2023, 9:33 PM

    @Steve: Looks like a report about unusually hot weather for this time of year to me..

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    Mute Gavin KKelly
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    Apr 28th 2023, 9:35 PM

    @John Bathe: It’s the immigrants fault. Bringing the weather with them

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    Mute Mike Magan
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    Apr 28th 2023, 9:41 PM

    @Steve: cheers Einstein.

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    Mute zephyrum
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    Apr 28th 2023, 10:13 PM

    @Steve: “flights to Spain”, would that be on a device that flies in the sky based on scientific research perhaps?

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    Mute Gavin Conran
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    Apr 28th 2023, 10:21 PM

    @Steve: Seems you’re the only one trying to stoke rage – over an article about the weather of all things. Jesus go back to bed.

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    Mute Shane Lad
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    Apr 28th 2023, 10:52 PM

    @Steve: it won’t be long now until the northern hemisphere is covered in ice and if your 50s or younger you’ll live to see it

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    Mute Young Angus
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    Apr 29th 2023, 12:15 AM

    @Steve: completely agree with you. Ive yet for someone to tell me what caused the ice age.

    33
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    Mute Paul Furey
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    Apr 29th 2023, 12:48 AM

    @Steve: sounds a bit selfish of you.

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    Mute Gavin Conran
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    Apr 29th 2023, 1:49 AM

    @Young Angus: The cold did…

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    Mute Fintan Stack
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    Apr 29th 2023, 2:51 AM

    @eoin fitzpatrick: good to report it, but is normal for Spain

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    Mute Fintan Stack
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    Apr 29th 2023, 2:52 AM

    @John Bathe: not unusual for Spain

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    Mute Fintan Stack
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    Apr 29th 2023, 2:54 AM

    @Young Angus: gradual natural cooling??

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    Mute Paul Whitehead
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    Apr 29th 2023, 11:02 AM

    @Fintan Stack: other than the Spanish government saying yesterday that this is highly unusual in April -May.

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    Mute David Terry
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    Apr 29th 2023, 7:01 PM

    @eoin fitzpatrick: He likes the bitter olives!

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    Mute Dave Huston
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    Apr 28th 2023, 9:53 PM

    Headline from 2015 -”Scorching Spain heat breaks all-time May records for Europe” Nothing to see here, Links not allowed by the Journal.

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    Mute Laois Weather
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    Apr 28th 2023, 10:11 PM

    @Dave Huston: Spain’s record high temperature was recorded on August 14th 2021 when a hot 47.6c was recorded. However this record high temperature was just 0.6c hotter than the 47.0c recorded both in 1964 and 1864.
    While 38.8c today is quite early in the season – the one plus is the still shorter daylight hours compared to mid-June to mid-July when the sun shines for longer.
    The continuous dry weather certainly has contributed to this early onset of heat. Drier soils will allow more of the sun’s energy to heat the lower layers of the atmosphere instead of being absorbed in the evaporation process. An example of this is 1887, one of Ireland’s driest years on record when Kilkenny recorded our all time maximum temperature of 33.3c – still unbeaten to this day.

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    Mute Laois Weather
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    Apr 28th 2023, 11:08 PM

    @Laois Weather: In addition to 1864 and 1964, the year of 1946 recorded 47.0c also.

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    Mute Shane Lad
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    Apr 28th 2023, 11:10 PM

    @Dave Huston: this comment will be deleted soon lol

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    Mute David Jordan
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    Apr 29th 2023, 12:24 AM

    @Laois Weather: However, …

    Temperatures of 46 Celsius or higher were recorded in Spain 11 times since 2000, 7 times between 1900 and 2000, and only once before 1900.

    There’s a clear trend here.

    The record high temperature in Spain were as follows:

    1. 47.6 °C August 14, 2021
    2. 47.3 °C July 13, 2017
    3. 47.1 °C August 11, 2012
    4. 47.0 °C June 27, 1864 and August 1964
    5. 47.0 °C August 6, 1946
    6. 47.0 °C August 24, 1996
    7. 46.9 °C August 10, 2012
    8. 46.6 °C July 23, 1995
    9. 46.6 °C August 11, 2012
    10. 46.5 °C July 30, 2007
    11. 46.5 °C August 11, 2012
    12. 46.3 °C August 11, 2012
    13. 46.2 °C August 1, 2003
    14. 46.1 °C July 4, 1994
    15. 46.1 °C August 10, 2012
    16. 46.0 °C July 8, 1939
    17. 46.0 °C August 20, 1953
    18. 46.0 °C August 10, 2012
    19. 46.0 °C August 10, 2012

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_extreme_temperatures_in_Spain

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    Mute kevin mc cormack
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    Apr 29th 2023, 2:03 AM

    @David Jordan: wiki is defo wrong with its calculations in this instance, of that I’m 100ooo%

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    Mute David Jordan
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    Apr 29th 2023, 2:25 AM

    @kevin mc cormack: “wiki is defo wrong with its calculations in this instance”

    What calculations? There are no calculations, it’s a list of temperature records.

    Also, here’s lowest temperatures ever. Lowest ever temperature, 3 times since 2000, 21 times between 1900 to 2000, no record before 1900.

    −35.9 °C January 7, 2021 (mountain peak)
    −34.1 °C January 6, 2021 (mountain peak)
    −32.0 °C February 2, 1956
    −30.0 °C December 17, 1963
    −28.2 °C January 28, 1952
    −28.0 °C December 17, 1963
    −28.0 °C December 17, 1963 and January 4, 1971
    −27.6 °C January 1945
    −27.2 °C January 4, 1971
    −27.0 °C December 17, 1963
    −26.7 °C January 31, 1947
    −26.0 °C January 9, 1954
    −26.0 °C February 1956
    −25.2 °C December 24, 2001
    −25.0 °C January 31, 1954
    −25.0 °C January 4, 1971
    −24.8 °C February 1, 1954
    −24.8 °C March 1, 2005
    −24.6 °C January 4, 1971
    −24.5 °C January 1971
    −24.4 °C January 1947
    −24.0 °C February 1, 1954
    −24.0 °C February 1, 1954
    −24.0 °C February 1956
    −24.0 °C January 1957
    −24.0 °C January 3, 1971

    26
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    Mute kevin mc cormack
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    Apr 29th 2023, 2:31 AM

    @David Jordan: are you sure you’re right
    ?

    100ooo%

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    Mute sean o'dhubhghaill
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    Apr 29th 2023, 6:35 AM

    @Laois Weather: That Kilkenny temp should be tsjen with a pinch of salt. A massive outlier on the day.

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    Mute Laois Weather
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    Apr 29th 2023, 10:26 AM

    @sean o’dhubhghaill: Wrong, it wasn’t a massive outlier as 30c was recorded in Galway and just under 32c was recorded in Cork on the same day. A recent study, for some bizarre reason left out these stations. Met Eireann have consistently maintained 33.3c in Kilkenny as the record. They dismissed 33.4c from Phoenix Park as unreliable from the late 1800s as did they dismiss 33.3c also recorded in 1851 in Markree Castle.

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    Mute Laois Weather
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    Apr 29th 2023, 10:27 AM

    @David Jordan: However, the spread of stations has expanded massively since the late 1970s. You cannot record high temperatures in a place without the equipment to do so.

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    Mute Ken Fenn
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    Apr 29th 2023, 11:45 AM

    @Laois Weather: Isn’t the weather station at kilkenny closed now?

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    Mute David Jordan
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    Apr 29th 2023, 11:13 PM

    @Laois Weather: “However, the spread of stations has expanded massively since the late 1970s. You cannot record high temperatures in a place without the equipment to do so”

    New High temperature Records > New Low Temperatures Records = Climate is Warming

    This is not a failure to understand, it is a refusal to understand.

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    Mute Sue O'Neill
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    Apr 28th 2023, 9:52 PM

    Fred in sligo sneezed yesterday so spuds are going up

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    Mute Fintan Stack
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    Apr 29th 2023, 2:50 AM

    Common for Spain this time of year. While little old Ireland deals with the coldest 4 months of the year in 10 years.

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    Mute Alan Farrell
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    Apr 29th 2023, 4:53 AM

    @Fintan Stack: Not really though. Only a few years ago, maybe 5? The whole place was blanketed in snow throughout February, March. Haven’t seen a single snow flake this year.

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    Mute eoin fitzpatrick
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    Apr 29th 2023, 7:41 AM

    @Fintan Stack: never ending drought, crop failures and record breaking 38c+ temperatures are not common in Spain at this time of year, that’s why it’s in the news

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    Mute Fiona Fitzgerald
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    Apr 29th 2023, 1:52 PM

    @Fintan Stack: No it isn’t normal for Spain. Droughts and fires, in agricultural country with half their water reserves already used?

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    Mute west awake
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    Apr 28th 2023, 10:41 PM

    I’m going there next week, but the YR forecasts are saying it is much cooler than the above figures, and it will average around 26 degrees next week.
    Someone is wrong.

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    Mute D Writer
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    Apr 30th 2023, 8:09 PM

    @west awake: I’m in spain now. Weather is beautiful. Highest temp was 28°C (once) but more typically is 23°C-25°C. The beaches have some more people this weekend but none are packed. Last week they were pretty much deserted. I would describe the temperature on the costa Almeria as ideal. Loving it.

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    Mute John O'sullivan
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    Apr 29th 2023, 9:14 AM

    have you ever noticed when there is a heatwave or storm or unusual weather its all down to climate change? yet when some one challenges the narrative with facts about a weather event that doesnt suit the climate alarmist they say its weather patterns,this climate change narrative will be shown up to be a nonsense, long after we are gone

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    Mute Ronan Meagle
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    Apr 29th 2023, 9:53 AM

    @John O’sullivan: so what facts do you have that show that climate change is nonsense

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    Mute John O'sullivan
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    Apr 29th 2023, 10:54 AM

    @Ronan Meagle: there is lots of competent qualified people with years of experience who have a completely different take on the climate narrative and in fact have debunked it, but like another “event”in our recent past they have been shunned by the main stream media,science and politicians, if you dont follow the narrative you dont get the funding,
    Follow the science they told us for the past 3 years,with any nay Sayers being ostracised and deplatformed by media ,well we have seen how that worked out with every day “new science” and truth debunking a lot of what was gospel …science doesn’t lie they told you…maybe science doesn’t lie but the experts spouting it sure do

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    Mute Sue O'Neill
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    Apr 28th 2023, 9:52 PM

    Also sorry for the people of Spain. Must be awful

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    Mute bruce banner
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    Apr 29th 2023, 3:23 AM

    Look at the world, threats of war ramping up our leaders know whats going on, energy companies and corps having their last gasp for rifiling cash, every person with wealth owing under ground bunkers.. Follow the money!

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    Mute Dave Hammond
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    Apr 29th 2023, 12:01 PM

    @bruce banner: yes and indeed and can i suggest while you are following them can we hound the top global corporations instead of everyday people / they are the root of emmissions / honestly if we turned the military in the US and China spend and prevented 20 top emitters from emissions and then faved as a people whatever shortahes of bottles of Coke or Pennys Tops after the fact we could probably get on with living the rest or our lives in peace without the incessant relentless badgering about the climate

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    Mute Giboulées des bâtards
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    Apr 28th 2023, 11:27 PM

    If 7 billion people suddenly disappeared, then the global warming problem would be solved.

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    Mute Fuji Hakayito
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    Apr 29th 2023, 8:51 AM

    @Giboulées des bâtards: no it wouldn’t. Humans didn’t create Global climate change/warming. At best we sped up the natural process, a little bit.

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    Mute Ronan Meagle
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    Apr 29th 2023, 9:55 AM

    @Fuji Hakayito: the vast majority of the scientific community disagree with you. What evidence do you have to support that claim?

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    Mute Paul Power
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    Apr 29th 2023, 10:23 AM

    @Giboulées des bâtards: it’s been going on ever before humans existed !

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    Mute Fuji Hakayito
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    Apr 29th 2023, 10:56 AM

    @Ronan Meagle: proof? Look around you, read a book. We probably wouldn’t have evolved or even existed in the first place if it wasn’t for climate change. We are still in an Ice age that is retreating. The ice started melting long before we began pumping crap into the atmosphere.

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    Mute Fiona Fitzgerald
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    Apr 29th 2023, 1:54 PM

    @Giboulées des bâtards: Unless you’re volunteering, quit reciting that old lie. Countries could easily spend more on environmental improvements and less on wars, for one thing.

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    Mute shuttleJohn
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    Apr 29th 2023, 8:29 AM

    Maybe take in some Spanish for 800 a month and government will build them some modular homes.
    M nn

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    Mute Michael Sheehan
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    Apr 29th 2023, 7:33 AM

    Ah weather , tis a tricky auld lad. Not to be confused with climate now. Mind how you go.

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    Mute Robert Halvey
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    Apr 29th 2023, 11:36 AM

    I feel sorry for the climate change deniers, it must be difficult when there last 2 remaining brain cells refuse to communicate and they can’t figure out critical thinking

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    Mute P. V. Aglue
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    Apr 29th 2023, 10:27 AM

    How will popeye afford it?

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