For the first time in years, much of Spain will mark the night of San Juan without the traditional bonfires that usually illuminate squares and beaches. The reason is not a change in custom but the thermometer: the country is enduring the most intense day of the summer’s first heatwave, with five provinces on red alert and temperatures soaring above 40°C.
The epicentre of the heat is unusually located in the north. Spain’s State Meteorological Agency (AEMET) has issued a red warning for inland areas of the Basque Country and Cantabria. In the south, Andalusia has also raised its alert to red. Orange warnings cover around ten regions, including Madrid, where the capital is expected to hover near 40°C. In Andalusia and Extremadura, thermometers could exceed 42°C, while the Ebro corridor will become an oven with temperatures surpassing 41°C from midday. Nightfall offers little respite: much of the country will see minimums above 25°C.
Wildfire fears drive cancellations
Beyond the oppressive heat, authorities are bracing for wildfires, a now-familiar summer threat. Catalonia remains on edge, and regions such as Castilla-La Mancha, the Valencian Community and Galicia are under extreme alert. The risk has forced dozens of town councils to cancel their San Juan bonfires, a decision that gathered pace throughout Monday.
In the Basque Country, the Security Department activated a pre-emergency situation and advised local councils to avoid lighting fires near forested areas. Sopela, Getxo, Barakaldo, Santurtzi, Gernika and Amorebieta are among the municipalities that have scrapped their St John’s Night celebrations. Some mayors, such as Bilbao’s, have sought a middle ground, authorising fires only on concrete surfaces in urban areas, away from vegetation, with firefighters on standby and reinforced safety measures.
The heatwave is part of a broader pattern affecting Western Europe. In France, 54 departments remain on red alert, and there have been 20 drownings as people seek relief in water. In Belgium, residents of Brussels are turning to public fountains to cool down. The situation has also disrupted travel: Eurostar has cut services between Paris and London, and the melting of the Bossons Glacier in the French Alps has accelerated.
Meteorologists expect the heat to begin easing from Thursday, when a flow of cooler air will bring temperatures back to more seasonal levels. Until then, Spain’s red alerts and fire bans remain in force, a stark reminder of how climate change is reshaping even the most cherished traditions.
