Spain braces for fourth heatwave of summer as temperatures set to hit 44°C and wildfire risk surges
Spain's meteorological agency AEMET has issued a special advisory for the country's fourth heatwave of the summer, forecast to push temperatures to 44°C in Córdoba and raise wildfire danger to extreme levels from Wednesday through the weekend.
Heatwave onset
Spain will enter its fourth heatwave of the summer on Wednesday, 29 July, as a mass of hot air settles over the Iberian Peninsula and the Canary Islands, according to AEMET. The national weather service activated yellow warnings for Gran Canaria for Wednesday, with maximum temperatures of 35°C expected in the summits and the east, south, and west slopes, particularly in the Tejeda basin and mid-altitude areas. The heatwave is forecast to last at least until Sunday, 2 August, and could extend into the following week.
The week is shaping up with very high temperatures again. In practically all of Spain, temperatures will generally exceed 36 degrees.
Temperatures will begin to climb on Monday, 27 July, with southern Galicia already reaching 36°C and Extremadura and the Guadalquivir valley hitting 38°C. On Tuesday, the rise will become generalised, with maximums of 38–40°C in the interior and nights staying above 22–24°C in Mediterranean areas and the Guadalquivir valley.
- Temperatures begin to rise; 36°C in southern Galicia, 38°C in Extremadura and Guadalquivir valley.
- Widespread ascent continues; maxima exceed 38–40°C in the interior, nights stay above 22–24°C in the south and Mediterranean.
- Fourth heatwave officially begins; temperatures exceed 36–38°C across the interior, 40°C in Ebro and southwest; yellow warning for Gran Canaria.
- Heat peaks in Canaries: Mogán reaches 37°C; mainland sees 39–41°C in valleys of southwest and Ebro.
- First weekend peak: up to 44°C in Córdoba, 42°C in Toledo, Zaragoza, Ciudad Real.
- Slight relief in some areas but heat remains extreme, with highs above 40°C in many valleys.
- Second peak: temperatures again reach 44°C in Córdoba; heatwave expected to last at least through Sunday, risk of extension.
City-by-city temperature extremes
The most intense heat is expected from Thursday through the weekend. On Thursday, the mercury will reach 37–38°C in Gran Canaria's interior and 39–41°C in the major river valleys of the southwest and the Ebro basin. Friday and Sunday are forecast to be the hottest days, with up to 44°C in the Córdoba area and around 42°C in Toledo, Zaragoza, and Ciudad Real, according to Meteored and AEMET.
In the Canary Islands, the peak of the episode is forecast for Thursday, when Mogán, on Gran Canaria's southern coast, could see 37°C. The islands will also experience a progressive drop in humidity and the arrival of calima, suspended Saharan dust, which will worsen air quality and intensify the sensation of heat.
Tomorrow we will probably start a new heatwave in Spain, the fourth so far this year.
- Córdoba
- 44 °C
- Toledo
- 42 °C
- Zaragoza
- 42 °C
- Ciudad Real
- 42 °C
- Mogán (Gran Canaria)
- 37 °C
Wildfire danger reaches extreme levels
The combination of blistering temperatures, low humidity, and southerly winds will push the forest fire risk to "very high" or "extreme" across most of the country from Tuesday onward, AEMET warned. On Monday, the danger was already rated as very high or extreme in Galicia, southern Castile and León, western Castile-La Mancha, Aragón, Catalonia, the Mediterranean regions, Andalusia, and Extremadura. By midweek, the alert will cover practically the entire national territory.
The fire risk from tomorrow is very high across the whole territory. Therefore, I call for caution in this context.
The risk will complicate ongoing efforts to fight a major wildfire near Madrid and Ávila, where variable winds on Monday added to the challenge. Vice-president and ecological transition minister Sara Aagesen called for extreme caution, noting the danger is widespread.
Historical context
June–July 2026 is already the warmest two-month period on record in Spain. June was the second-warmest ever, behind only 2025, and July is tied with July 2022 as the hottest month ever registered. Scientists warn that climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of heatwaves and the accompanying fire danger.
