Spain swelters in first summer heatwave as Guadalajara breaks June record with 38.8°C
The first heatwave of summer has pushed temperatures above 40°C across much of Spain, forcing authorities to issue red alerts in the Basque Country and orange alerts in 11 other regions, while Guadalajara shattered its 45-year-old June record.
The heatwave that arrived on Sunday is set to intensify, with a mass of warm air from the south driving temperatures to dangerous levels in many parts of the country. The state meteorological agency AEMET has activated warnings in 14 autonomous communities, and the Basque health service reported dozens treated for heat-related conditions.
Record tumbles in Guadalajara
Guadalajara became the first provincial capital to set a new all-time high for June. At 15:30 on Sunday the thermometer reached 38.8°C, surpassing the previous mark of 38.5°C that had stood since 1981. Meteorologists expect the record to be pushed even higher in the coming days as the heatwave grips the interior.
Scorching Monday forecast
Monday will be the peak of the episode. The Basque Country is under a red alert from 13:00 to 20:00, with maximum temperatures forecast between 40°C and 42°C. Orange alerts cover Andalusia, Aragon, the Balearics, Cantabria, Castile and León, Castile-La Mancha, Catalonia, Extremadura, Madrid, Navarre and La Rioja. Yellow warnings are in place for Asturias, Galicia and the Valencian Community. In the Ebro, Tagus, Guadiana and Guadalquivir valleys highs could locally exceed 42°C, while the northern plateau will see 37–39°C and the southern interior 37–40°C.
- Guadalajara breaks June record at 38.8°C
- 25 people attended by emergency services in the Basque Country due to heat
- Red alert issued for the Basque Country, orange alerts for 11 regions. Temperatures forecast up to 42°C
- La Rioja continues on orange and yellow alerts, with risk of exceeding red threshold
Health impact in the Basque Country
Emergency services in Euskadi attended 25 people on Sunday due to the heat, ranging in age from 16 to 94. Eight were treated on the spot and discharged, while 17 were taken to hospital by ambulance; all cases were classified as mild. By province, 21 were in Bizkaia and four in Gipuzkoa, with none in Álava. The regional health department urged the public to follow the recommendations of the 2026 Heat Plan, with the red alert remaining active from noon to 20:00 on Monday.
Safety warnings and advice
Emergency coordination centres across the country are reinforcing precautionary measures. In Extremadura, where orange alerts cover the Guadiana plains, La Siberia and the Tagus-Alagón area, temperatures could hit 40°C. Authorities advise staying indoors during the middle of the day, drinking plenty of water and fruit juice, avoiding heavy meals and alcohol, and checking on elderly relatives and young children. In Castile and León, orange alerts for Valladolid, Zamora and northern Burgos will be in place from 13:00 to 20:59, with highs of 39°C; the rest of the region remains on yellow alert at up to 38°C. La Rioja faces another day of orange risk in the Ribera district on Tuesday, with a 40–70% probability of temperatures reaching 40°C and the possibility of locally exceeding the red threshold.
