Lorraine Williamson
Spain has entered June under official heat warnings, with temperatures forecast to reach 39C in parts of the country and more alerts expected on Tuesday in the south-east and Mediterranean areas.
The latest heat warnings affect several regions throughout Spain. AEMET has activated high-temperature alerts in Andalucia on Monday, while Tuesday brings warnings for Murcia, southern Alicante and parts of Málaga province. At the same time, storms may develop in the Pyrenees and other eastern mountain areas.
The combination means Spain is beginning the month with a familiar early-summer contrast: intense inland heat in some areas, while other regions face the risk of sudden afternoon storms.
What readers need to know
The strongest heat risk on Monday is in inland southern Spain, where AEMET warnings include temperatures of up to 39C in parts of Jaén and 36C in parts of Huelva.
On Tuesday, the focus shifts more clearly towards the south-east. Murcia’s Vega del Segura could approach 39C, while southern Alicante province is also expected to exceed 38C in places. Málaga’s Sol and Guadalhorce area is also under a high-temperature warning.
This is not a formal nationwide heatwave. Even so, the temperatures are high enough to affect residents, visitors, outdoor workers, pets and vulnerable people.
Where the heat warnings are strongest
Several areas are worth watching over the next 24 to 48 hours.
In Andalucia, inland zones remain exposed to very high afternoon temperatures, especially away from the coast. The Guadalquivir valley often records some of Spain’s hottest readings, but values close to 39C at the start of June are still notable.
Murcia is also facing a sharp rise. Local forecasts point to up to 39C in the Vega del Segura and around 38C in parts of the Guadalentín valley, Lorca and Águilas.
In the Valencian Community, Elche and southern Alicante province are expected to be under a yellow warning on Tuesday, with temperatures above 38C and possibly reaching 39C locally.
Northern Spain is also feeling the heat differently
The heat story is not confined to the south.
Cadena SER reports that parts of northern Spain have also been facing unusually high temperatures, with places such as Cantabria and Asturias dealing with conditions that many homes are not designed for. The report notes that air conditioning is far less common in northern households than in Spain overall, making hot spells harder to manage indoors.
This matters because heat risk is not only about maximum temperatures. It is also about housing, shade, ventilation, age, health and whether people are used to coping with hot conditions.
Storms may develop in the east and Pyrenees
Spain’s weather is not purely settled and hot.
RTVE’s Monday forecast points to high temperatures for the time of year, but also to storms in the Pyrenees. The general pattern remains mostly stable, with clear skies or high cloud in many areas, although afternoon cloud could build over eastern mountain zones.
This means travellers should check local forecasts before assuming conditions will be the same everywhere. Spain can see 39C heat in one region and hail or thunderstorms in another on the same day.
Why yellow warnings still matter
A yellow heat warning does not usually mean extreme danger for everyone. It does mean the weather can affect people who are exposed, vulnerable or unprepared.
That includes older people, babies, pregnant women, outdoor workers, athletes and anyone with heart, kidney or respiratory conditions. It also includes pets, especially dogs walked on hot pavements or left in poorly ventilated spaces.
Visitors can be caught out too. Early June may still feel like spring in northern Europe, but inland Spain can already behave like high summer.
Heat arrives as household bills change
The timing is awkward for residents.
From 1 June, VAT on electricity and natural gas in Spain has returned to 21% after the temporary reduction ended. That means many households may face higher bills just as fans, air conditioning, fridges and pool pumps start working harder.
For some people, cooling is not optional. Safe indoor temperatures matter for older residents, young children, people with health conditions and anyone working from home during the hottest hours.
Practical advice for residents and visitors
The safest approach is to plan the day around the heat.
Avoid heavy outdoor activity from early afternoon into early evening. Drink water regularly, use shade, wear light clothing and check on older neighbours or relatives who live alone.
Children and pets should never be left in parked vehicles, even briefly. Temperatures inside cars can rise dangerously fast, even when windows are slightly open.
Tourists sightseeing in inland cities should consider early morning or evening visits. Midday walks around exposed monuments, old-town streets, viewpoints or markets can become exhausting quickly.
Fire risk also rises
High temperatures increase fire risk, particularly in dry inland areas, woodland, scrubland and rural zones.
Even without an active wildfire warning, simple precautions matter. Cigarette ends, barbecues, machinery sparks, and vehicles parked over dry grass can all create danger in hot, dry conditions.
Residents in rural or semi-rural areas should follow local restrictions and avoid any activity that could start a fire.
Will temperatures fall later this week?
Some relief may arrive, but it may not last.
AS reports that AEMET expects temperatures to begin falling gradually from Tuesday, with a more noticeable drop by the weekend in parts of the north and east. Some areas could even see temperatures temporarily below normal. However, the same outlook suggests temperatures may rise again from around 8 June, especially inland.
AEMET’s own weekly outlook also points to a first week of June that remains warm, though generally less extreme than the previous late-May heat. Rain is expected to remain scarce in much of Spain, apart from the far north and isolated mountain storms.
June begins with summer precautions already needed
Spain has started June with heat alerts, regional storm risk and another reminder that summer precautions are already necessary.
The areas most affected will change from day to day. Andalucia is among the hottest zones on Monday, while Murcia, Alicante and Málaga face stronger alerts on Tuesday. Northern and eastern mountain areas also need to watch for storms.
For residents and visitors, the message is simple: check AEMET before travelling, avoid the hottest hours, protect children and pets, and take yellow warnings seriously.