Spain's fourth heatwave pushes temperatures past 42°C, while hotels slash August prices as domestic tourists stay home

Extreme heat across Spain

On Thursday, Spain endured the peak of its fourth summer heatwave. More than half of the country's meteorological stations registered temperatures above 35°C, and over 50 stations surpassed 40°C, according to Aemet. The highest reading was 42.6°C in Sant Julià de Vilatorta, a municipality in Barcelona province. Orange alerts for extreme heat were active in Catalonia, Andalusia, Aragon, Castilla-La Mancha, Madrid, Navarra, and the Valencian Community. In Catalonia, Meteocat recorded 41°C in Lleida, Tremp, and Solsona. The heat reached even the Pyrenees: Pont de Suert and Seu d'Urgell both exceeded 36.8°C, Vielha passed 30°C, and Tírvia, at 955 metres altitude, hit 36°C. These figures show that areas once considered climatic refuges are no longer immune to extreme heat.

Northern cool spots

While most of the country sweltered, a few high-altitude locations in the north recorded unusually low overnight temperatures. Alto Campoo in Cantabria registered the lowest minimum at 6.6°C. Other cool readings included 8.1°C in Sanabria (Zamora), 9.7°C in Beariz (Ourense), 10.2°C in Xinzo de Limia, and 10°C in Puerto del Pico (Ávila). The contrast is explained by the heat dome mechanism: a strong anticyclone over the peninsula compresses and heats descending air, but at higher elevations and in certain valleys, nighttime cooling still occurs.

Hotels slash August prices

The prolonged heat is influencing travel decisions. Hotels in the Balearic and Canary Islands, Catalonia, and other tourist areas are offering discounts of up to 40% for August, a highly unusual move during peak season. The trade publication Preferente reports that domestic tourism has slowed as rising living costs force families to shorten stays or postpone trips. The Costa del Sol expects August hotel occupancy of 84.98%, about 7 percentage points below the previous year. Some travellers are opting for cooler destinations, while others wait until the last moment to check temperature forecasts before booking. In response, hotels are introducing flexible cancellation terms and complimentary services to attract guests.

Forecast and wildfire risk

The heatwave is expected to persist through the weekend. Aemet forecasts temperatures near 45°C in the Guadalquivir valley and around 40°C in the Tagus valley, an area already scarred by recent wildfires. A weather change after the weekend could finally break the heat, but until then, much of Spain remains under extreme conditions.