AEMET issues orange heat alerts as Spain braces for 40°C temperatures and southeast storms

Heat alerts across Spain

AEMET, Spain's State Meteorological Agency, has activated orange alerts for Thursday 13 August in the Community of Madrid and Vitoria-Gasteiz, with yellow alerts in Albacete and other areas. In Madrid, maximum temperatures will reach 39 and 40 degrees in the centre and south of the region, and 37 degrees in low-lying areas of the Sierra, with the orange alert active between 12:00 and 21:00. Minimum temperatures in Madrid will range between 21 and 24 degrees. Vitoria-Gasteiz will see highs of about 39 degrees around 15:00 and lows near 18 degrees under generally clear skies with light northerly winds.

The heat will extend across practically the entire peninsula and the Balearic Islands, with temperatures above 35 degrees in much of the interior. The highest values are expected in the southwest valleys, where 40 degrees could be exceeded, a barrier that may also be crossed locally around the Miño river and parts of the southern meseta. Coastal areas and some mountain zones will be the main exceptions to the intense heat.

Storms forecast in the southeast

While stability and mostly clear skies will dominate much of the day, the afternoon will bring instability to eastern and southeastern areas. Clouds will build over the interior and the eastern third, producing showers and storms, particularly in the sierras of the southeast, the Iberian system of Teruel, and nearby areas, where storms could be strong and accompanied by very intense wind gusts.

The Region of Murcia will be among the areas most exposed to this instability. AEMET has activated a yellow alert for rain and storms between 13:00 and 21:00. In the northwest, up to 20 litres per square metre could accumulate in one hour, while storms will also affect the Guadalentín valley, Lorca, and Águilas, potentially bringing hail and very strong wind gusts.

Coastal cities and heat index

Along the Mediterranean coast, several municipalities will experience high temperatures with elevated heat-index values. Elche will reach about 36 degrees around 17:00 with a maximum heat index of 40 degrees. Torrevieja will see a peak of 32 degrees at 17:00 with a heat index of 41 degrees. Benidorm will register a maximum of 32 degrees with a heat index of 38 degrees. Castelldefels, in the province of Barcelona, will not be affected by the yellow alert activated for the province, with a maximum of 34 degrees and a heat index of 38 degrees. Albacete, under a yellow alert for La Mancha, will reach about 38 degrees around 15:00 with a heat index of 39 degrees and a minimum near 22 degrees.

Friday and the weekend outlook

Heat will persist on Friday across the Community of Madrid, with both orange and yellow alerts still active. In Albacete, storms are expected around midday, with maximum temperatures largely unchanged and minimums holding at 22 degrees (heat index of 37 degrees). Vitoria-Gasteiz will see a notable drop to 33 degrees, while Elche will remain around 35 degrees and Benidorm around 31 degrees.

The weekend will bring a shift in conditions. Vitoria-Gasteiz will see covered skies with rain on Saturday (maximum above 28 degrees, minimum 17) and abundant clouds with rain on Sunday (26 degrees maximum, 15 minimum). Albacete will have cloudy intervals with rain on Saturday (above 34 degrees) and lighter rain on Sunday (33 degrees maximum, 20 minimum). Madrid will experience a slight drop to 37 and 38 degrees. Castelldefels will see cloudy intervals on Saturday (above 33 degrees, minimum 25) and cloudy skies with light rain on Sunday, with temperatures between 31 and 24 degrees. Benidorm and Torrevieja will maintain cloudy intervals with maximums of 32 degrees on both weekend days.