Spain braces for a severe heatwave as Aemet maintains weather alerts. Temperatures above 35°C are expected in many regions. Storm warnings are also in effect for the northern half of the country.
Spain is set for another day of extreme weather as the Agencia Estatal de Meteorología (Aemet) maintains widespread alerts for both high temperatures and severe storms. On Friday, twelve autonomous communities remain under official warnings, with the most intense heat forecast for Catalonia and the Balearic Islands, where orange-level alerts have been activated due to expected highs well above seasonal norms.
According to Aemet, the heatwave will be especially pronounced in Lleida and Mallorca, as well as large parts of Andalusia, Aragón, Castilla-La Mancha, Castilla y León, Comunidad Valenciana, Galicia, Madrid, Murcia, Navarra, and La Rioja. In these areas, maximum temperatures are likely to reach between 36°C and 39°C, with some locations in the Ebro valley and the Balearic archipelago potentially touching or exceeding 40°C.
While the arrival of a weather system known as a 'dana' is set to increase atmospheric instability, it will not bring immediate relief from the heat. Instead, the afternoon is expected to see the development of storm clouds capable of producing intense downpours, particularly in central and northern regions. Aragón, Castilla y León, Galicia, and Comunidad Valenciana are under alerts for rain and thunderstorms, while Castilla-La Mancha, Madrid, Catalonia, and La Rioja face warnings specifically for storms.
Provinces at highest risk include Castellón, Valencia, Teruel, Lugo, Ourense, and León, where heavy showers and thunderstorms are anticipated. Storm activity may also affect the Sierra de Madrid, Guadalajara, the Rioja highlands, and several provinces in Castilla y León such as Burgos, Palencia, Segovia, Soria, Valladolid, and Zamora, as well as Zaragoza. Aemet warns that some storms could be severe, bringing intense rainfall in short periods, frequent lightning, hail, and very strong wind gusts. Residents are advised to exercise caution, especially during the afternoon and evening hours.
Elsewhere in Spain, skies will remain mostly clear or only lightly clouded for much of the day. Early morning low clouds are expected in Galicia, the Cantabrian coast, the Strait of Gibraltar, and northern Canary Islands, with possible morning fog banks in the northwest.
Temperatures are forecast to drop slightly in many areas, but this cooling will be uneven. The most noticeable relief is expected in central and some eastern regions, while the Balearic Islands and the northeast will continue to experience intense heat.
Looking ahead to the weekend, the position of the dana will continue to shape weather patterns. On Saturday, southerly winds are expected to push temperatures higher again in Galicia, the Cantabrian coast, and parts of central Spain. Highs between 36°C and 39°C are likely to return across much of the interior and the Balearic Islands, with the Ebro valley, the Tajo valley, and the upper Guadalquivir possibly seeing isolated peaks of 40°C.
By Sunday, a shift of the dana towards the northwest could bring a more significant drop in temperatures to Galicia, Castilla y León, and Extremadura. However, this relief will remain patchy. The southern plateau, Ebro valley, inland Catalonia, Comunidad Valenciana, Murcia, eastern Andalusia, and the Balearic Islands are expected to continue recording highs of 37°C to 39°C.
As the new week approaches, uncertainty grows regarding the dana's evolution. Forecast models suggest that the eastern and northeastern parts of the peninsula will likely continue to experience above-average temperatures, with some interior Mediterranean areas possibly exceeding 40°C again. In contrast, the western half of Spain may see milder conditions, though rainfall will remain scarce except in Galicia, the Cantabrian coast, and isolated inland locations where further storms could develop.
This latest episode of extreme heat and storms comes as Spain continues to grapple with the challenges of increasingly frequent and intense weather events. Recent analysis, such as the study on air conditioning disparities in Barcelona, highlights how heatwaves are exposing vulnerabilities in infrastructure and social protection, especially for lower-income households.
For context, Aemet's alert system uses yellow, orange, and red levels to indicate the severity of weather risks, with orange signifying a significant threat to health and safety. The agency regularly updates its forecasts and recommendations, urging residents and visitors to stay informed and take precautions during periods of extreme weather. Spain's varied geography means that weather impacts can differ sharply from one region to another, making local updates especially important during such volatile conditions.
