Spain is bracing for its first official heatwave of the summer, set to begin on Thursday and last until 25 July, according to the State Meteorological Agency (Aemet). This intense heatwave will predominantly affect the southern and northeastern parts of the peninsula. Temperatures will peak at up to 44 degrees Celsius on Friday, 19 July.
By Wednesday, temperatures will rise significantly, placing eleven provinces on heat alert. Jaén and Córdoba will be under an orange warning due to expected temperatures exceeding 40 degrees. Granada, Huelva, Seville, Albacete, Ciudad Real, Cuenca, Guadalajara, Toledo, and the Community of Madrid will be under a yellow warning.
Heatwave causes
The heatwave is attributed to a large high-pressure area over Algeria, pushing a very warm and dry air mass towards the Iberian Peninsula. This air mass, accompanied by dust particles (calima), will, along with strong solar radiation and a stable atmosphere, cause a “general and gradual” rise in temperatures. Aemet spokesperson Luis Bañon stated that the intense heat is expected to last until at least mid-next week.
Impacted areas
The heatwave will affect almost all of Spain, except for the northwestern quadrant and the Cantabrian area. Tropical nights are forecasted for much of the southern half of the peninsula, the eastern coast, and the Ebro Valley, with night temperatures remaining high.
Friday’s peak heat
Friday will mark the peak of the heatwave, with minimum temperatures in many southeastern areas not dropping below 24 degrees. Maximum temperatures will remain extremely high or even increase further in the eastern coast, the Balearic Islands, Ceuta, Melilla, and the Canary Islands. Cities like Albacete, Badajoz, Cáceres, Ciudad Real, Córdoba, Granada, Guadalajara, Lleida, Jaén, Logroño, Madrid, Murcia, Seville, Toledo, Teruel, and Zaragoza could see temperatures between 40 and 44 degrees. Even the northern highlands and inland Mallorca will experience temperatures up to 38 degrees.
Weekend relief
Over the weekend, the hot and dusty air mass will temporarily give way to cooler Atlantic air, resulting in a slight drop in temperatures. The northwest of the peninsula may experience some rainfall and cooler weather due to a new depression.
Heat returns on Monday
However, the relief will be short-lived, as temperatures are expected to rise again from Monday, with the heatwave potentially lasting until mid-week. Luis Bañon highlighted that the heatwave will persist for several days with fluctuating temperatures, affecting various regions differently but generally dominating a large part of the Spanish peninsula and the Balearic Islands.
Understanding a heatwave
Aemet defines an official heatwave based on specific conditions: at least three consecutive days where at least 10% of meteorological stations record maximum temperatures above the 95th percentile of their historical data range (typically 1971-2000).
Health risks and precautions
Extreme temperatures pose significant health risks, especially for the elderly, infants, young children, those with chronic illnesses, certain medication users, overweight individuals, and the homeless. Outdoor workers, such as construction workers and municipal cleaning staff, should also exercise caution.
Health experts emphasise three key precautions during extreme heat:
- Take it easy.
- Stay hydrated.
- Stay indoors and avoid the sun.
Never leave children or pets in parked cars.
Historical context
Spain experienced 24 official heatwave days in 2023, second only to 2022’s 41 days. In 2015, there were 29 days, and in 2017, 25 days of official heatwaves, according to Aemet’s analysis. Last year, four official heatwaves occurred, with the highest temperatures recorded between 9 and 11 August.
For more tips on coping with extreme heat, visit: Tips for coping with extreme heat in