Spain is bracing for its second heatwave of the summer, with the national meteorological agency Aemet maintaining a special warning as temperatures are forecast to reach 42°C in parts of Andalusia, Extremadura, and the Tagus valley. Nine regions are under alert, with orange-level warnings—indicating significant danger—in effect across much of the country.
The orange alert applies today to Andalusia, Extremadura, Castilla-La Mancha, Catalonia, Galicia, and the Madrid region. In Aragon, Castile and León, and the Valencian Community, the warning remains at yellow, denoting a lower but still notable risk.
In Extremadura, the entire region is under orange alert, with temperatures expected to hover around 40°C. A similar situation is forecast for the Tagus valley in Castilla-La Mancha, where highs will approach that figure. The worst-hit areas in Andalusia include the Guadalquivir valley in Jaén, the Sierra Morena and Condado district, the plains of Córdoba and Seville, and the Andévalo and coast of Huelva, where thermometers could reach 42°C during the hottest hours.
Northern Spain Not Spared
While extreme heat typically concentrates in the south and inland, this episode is notable for its reach into the north. Galicia, where such events are rare, is under an orange warning. Inland Ourense could see 39°C, while the Rías Baixas in Pontevedra and southwest A Coruña are expected to reach 37°C. In Madrid, the most severe warnings are in the Sierra (up to 37°C) and the metropolitan area and Henares basin (up to 39°C).
This heatwave follows a pattern of increasing frequency. Aemet notes that of the twelve heatwaves recorded in June since comparable records began in 1975, half have occurred since 2015. The first heatwave of this summer, which lasted much of June, was linked to hundreds of heat-related deaths, according to Spain's Health Ministry monitoring system. Similar trends have been observed across Europe, with a June heatwave linked to over 4,000 excess deaths across Western Europe and a 39% rise in deaths in Belgium.
The current episode began with a steady temperature rise earlier this week and is expected to last at least until next Tuesday. Health authorities are reiterating standard advice: avoid exercise and direct sun exposure during midday, stay well hydrated, and pay particular attention to older people, children, and those with chronic illnesses.
The heatwave also raises concerns about wildfire risk, particularly in regions like Portugal, which recently mobilised over 1,000 firefighters as heatwave fuels wildfires. Spain's own wildfire season has already been severe, with 50,000 hectares burned and Cantabria worst hit.
As Europe grapples with more frequent and intense heatwaves, the need for climate adaptation is becoming urgent. The European Commission has shifted focus to climate adaptation after the deadly June heatwave, but national measures remain uneven. For now, Spaniards from Galicia to Andalusia are bracing for another week of extreme temperatures.
