Lorraine Williamson
Spain is starting the week with temperatures more typical of midsummer than late May, as weather alerts remain active for heat, storms, wind, and coastal conditions.
The latest weather warnings in Spain come as AEMET points to “extraordinarily high” temperatures for this time of year. RTVE reports maximums of 34 °C to 36 °C on Monday in the south-west, the Ebro valley and parts of the Canary Islands, while the heat is expected to intensify during the week.
The pattern is not the same everywhere. While much of Spain is dealing with early summer heat, northern and north-western areas still face storm risk linked to an unsettled DANA.
What readers need to know
Monday’s warnings cover several different hazards. These include high temperatures, storms, coastal conditions and strong gusts in some areas.
AEMET’s warning map shows active alerts for storms in parts of northern Spain, while RTVE says heat alerts are also affecting areas where temperatures are well above normal for late May.
The most affected heat zones include parts of the south-west, the Ebro valley, inland Andalucia, Extremadura, Castilla-La Mancha and areas of the Canary Islands. Further north, storms may still affect Galicia, Asturias, Cantabria and Castilla y León.
Heat could approach 40 °C this week
The heat is expected to build as the week goes on.
Several Spanish forecasts, citing AEMET, point to temperatures potentially reaching close to 40 °C later this week in parts of Extremadura, Andalucia and Castilla-La Mancha. The Ebro, Guadiana and Guadalquivir valleys are among the areas most likely to see the highest values.
Cadena SER reports that Sevilla could see daytime temperatures around 38 °C from Wednesday, with the possibility of 40 °C by the weekend. Nights may also become unusually warm, with minimums staying above 20 °C in some areas.
AEMET has not described the current episode as a formal heatwave. Even so, the conditions are unusually intense for May and can still affect health, travel, work and fire risk.
Fire risk rises with heat and dry conditions
The heat is not only uncomfortable. It can also increase wildfire risk, especially where dry vegetation, wind and high temperatures combine.
Cadena SER has reported growing concern over fire risk as Spain heads towards temperatures close to 40 °C in an atypical May spell. The Basque Government has also activated a yellow warning for high forest fire risk linked to heat and southerly winds.
Residents and visitors should avoid lighting fires, throwing cigarette ends from vehicles, using barbecues in restricted areas or leaving glass and rubbish in the countryside. Local rules can change quickly during hot spells.
Motorway signs warn drivers over cigarette butts
Drivers in Spain may also notice motorway gantry signs warning against throwing cigarette butts from car windows during the current fire-risk period. The warning is not just environmental. Spain’s DGT says throwing a cigarette butt, or any object that could cause a fire, from a vehicle can lead to a €500 fine and the loss of six points from the driving licence. The agency has also warned that a lit or badly extinguished cigarette can have devastating consequences during dry, hot weather.
Heat illness already reported in the north
The first strong heat episode of the year has already had health consequences.
In Euskadi, Cadena SER reports that 30 people were treated over the weekend for heat-related symptoms, including dizziness, fainting, fatigue and disorientation. Three people required transfer to medical centres.
That matters because heat risk is not limited to southern Spain. Areas that are less used to very high temperatures can also see health impacts, especially when the change arrives suddenly.
Outdoor workers face growing pressure
The timing of this heat is also raising concern for outdoor workers.
In Málaga, CCOO has warned that extreme heat is now arriving earlier in the year and has called for urgent workplace measures in sectors such as construction, agriculture, logistics, hospitality and public services without adequate cooling. The union says employers need to adapt schedules, reduce workloads, provide water and create shaded or cool rest areas.
The issue is likely to become more prominent as Spain moves into June. Heat-related labour rules and prevention plans increasingly need to account for spring heat, not only July and August.
Storms still possible in the north
While heat dominates much of the forecast, northern Spain has a different risk.
AEMET has warnings for storms in parts of the north, with Galicia, Asturias, Cantabria and Castilla y León among the areas most likely to see showers, hail or strong gusts. The unsettled conditions are linked to a DANA affecting the north and north-west.
These storms may be localised. That makes them harder to predict at street level, but potentially disruptive for drivers, hikers and anyone planning outdoor activities.
What to do during the hottest hours
The main advice is simple: take the heat seriously, even though it is still May.
Avoid strenuous exercise during the hottest part of the day. Drink water regularly. Keep blinds or shutters closed during peak heat. Check on older relatives, young children, pregnant women and people with health conditions.
Never leave children, pets or vulnerable people inside a parked car. Temperatures inside vehicles can rise dangerously fast, even when the windows are slightly open.
Travel and outdoor plans may need adjusting
Anyone driving long distances should carry water and check the vehicle before setting off. Tyres, coolant and air conditioning matter more during sudden hot spells.
People heading to the countryside or mountains should check both heat and storm forecasts. In northern areas, a warm start to the day can still turn into hail, thunder and strong gusts later.
Beachgoers should also check local flags and coastal warnings, especially where wind and rough seas are forecast.
A week that feels more like summer
Spain’s weather this week is a reminder that late May can now bring conditions many people associate with July.
The heat is expected to continue and may intensify, while storms remain possible in northern and mountain areas. The practical message is to plan around the weather rather than assume spring conditions will hold.
Before travelling, working outdoors or making weekend plans, check the latest AEMET warnings for your province.