Spain swelters through second summer heatwave as temperatures hit 43°C and red alerts are issued
The second heatwave of the summer grips Spain, with Monday and Tuesday marking the hottest days. Temperatures are forecast to reach 43°C in parts of the country, and red alerts have been activated for three regions.
Spain is in the grip of its second major heatwave of the summer, with the state meteorological agency Aemet warning that Monday and Tuesday will be the peak days of the episode. The heatwave, declared last Friday, has already pushed temperatures above 43°C in some areas and is expected to last at least until Wednesday, possibly Thursday.
Peak temperatures and regional alerts
On Monday, maximum temperatures are forecast to reach 39–41°C across the southwestern quadrant, the Ebro valley and northeastern depressions, with 42°C possible in the Guadalquivir valley. In the eastern Cantabrian region, both mesetas, inland Valencia and Mallorca, highs of 37–39°C are expected, locally exceeding 40°C. All 17 autonomous communities have heat alerts in place, with orange warnings (significant risk) active in 22 provinces.
Daytime and nighttime temperatures very high across the Peninsula and the Balearics until at least Wednesday 8th. Intense heat also in the Canaries. Significant or even extraordinary danger. Take care!
Tuesday will see temperatures climb further in the east, with red alerts (extreme risk) activated for Aragón, Catalonia and the Valencian Community. Zaragoza could reach 43°C and Madrid 40°C. On Wednesday, temperatures will ease in some areas but Seville may still hit 42°C.
Record-breaking heat on Sunday
Even before the official peak, Sunday saw extreme values. Alburquerque (Badajoz) recorded 43.5°C at 17:20, the highest in the country, followed by Fuentes de Andalucía (Seville) with 43.1°C and Olivenza (Badajoz) also at 43.1°C. Badajoz had already reached 43.5°C on Saturday.
- Alburquerque (Badajoz)
- 43.5 °C
- Fuentes de Andalucía (Seville)
- 43.1 °C
- Olivenza (Badajoz)
- 43.1 °C
- Andújar (Jaén)
- 42.7 °C
- Montoro (Córdoba)
- 42.7 °C
- Seville Airport
- 42.6 °C
- El Granado (Huelva)
- 42.5 °C
- Mérida (Badajoz)
- 42.5 °C
- Badajoz
- 42.4 °C
- Santa Marta (Badajoz)
- 42.4 °C
Health toll and official warnings
The Ministry of Health has urged the public, especially vulnerable groups, to protect themselves from the heat. According to the Daily Mortality Monitoring System (MoMo) of the Carlos III Health Institute, 153 deaths attributable to high temperatures were recorded in the first four days of July, following 937 such deaths in June. The figures include deaths from aggravated cardiovascular, respiratory or renal conditions, not only heatstroke.
Nighttime offers little relief
Nights are also exceptionally warm. Minimum temperatures will not drop below 20°C along the Mediterranean coast, the southwest, the Ebro valley and the Canaries, and will stay above 25°C in the Tagus, Guadiana and Guadalquivir valleys.
Meteorological drivers
The heatwave is being driven by a ridge of high pressure over Spain and a DANA (isolated high-altitude depression) to the west of the Iberian Peninsula, combined with strong sunshine, high atmospheric stability and light winds. These factors are generating a very dry and hot air mass that is proving persistent.
- Second heatwave of the summer officially declared.
- Heatwave begins; temperatures exceed 43°C in parts of Extremadura and Andalusia.
- Peak day: highs of 42°C in Guadalquivir valley, orange alerts in 22 provinces.
- Red alerts issued for Aragón, Catalonia and Valencia; Zaragoza may hit 43°C.
- Temperatures begin to ease in some areas, but Seville still forecast at 42°C.
