Spain’s prolonged heatwave is coming to an abrupt end as cooler Atlantic air sweeps across the peninsula, triggering storm warnings in the north and Galicia. The Agencia Estatal de Meteorología (AEMET) says the intense heat is easing in most regions, but six autonomous communities in the northeast and the Balearic Islands remain under high-temperature alerts this Thursday. Heavy rain and thunderstorms are also expected in Galicia and along the Cantabrian coast, prompting additional weather advisories. AEMET publishes forecasts and active adverse-weather warnings by territory, from national and autonomous-community information to provincial and island-level details, alongside forecast temperature tables and warning maps.
Heat warnings are in effect for Huesca, Teruel, Zaragoza, Mallorca, Ibiza, Formentera, Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, several zones in Navarra, Guipúzcoa, Vizcaya, and the Ribera del Ebro in La Rioja. Storm and rain alerts cover the western and southwestern coast of Asturias, all four Galician provinces, the Cantabrian mountains in León, northern Burgos, and Vizcaya. AEMET organizes its warning system by territory, making it possible to identify alerts by location and hazard. The agency says the Atlantic air mass arriving from the west is expected to bring the recent heatwave to a definitive end.
Most of Spain will have clear skies, while the northwest will see overcast conditions with locally intense showers and thunderstorms. By afternoon, convective clouds are expected to develop, especially in the far north, bringing hail and heavy downpours to the Cantabrian region and the upper Ebro valley. Storms are also possible in the Iberian System, the Pyrenees, and other inland areas. Atlantic systems can bring cloud and rain to northern Spain even as high pressure keeps much of the peninsula stable.
In the Canary Islands, the north will see intervals of cloud, while the south remains mostly clear. Morning fog or mist is likely in the Cantabrian area and Galicia. Temperatures are set to fall sharply across much of the peninsula, with the steepest drops inland and in the Cantabrian region. The eastern third will see a smaller decrease, and minimum temperatures there will also dip slightly.
Despite the general cooling, maximum temperatures of 34 to 36°C are still expected in the Ebro valley, eastern parts of the southern plateau, the Balearic Islands, and some eastern regions. In isolated cases, highs could reach 38 to 39°C. Tropical nights, when temperatures remain above 20°C, are forecast for central-southern areas, the Ebro, and Mediterranean coastal zones.
Winds will generally be light to moderate, with southwesterly flow in Atlantic regions, northwesterly winds in the Cantabrian area, and southeasterly winds in the eastern third. Coastal areas will have breezes, while the Strait of Gibraltar and Alborán will see moderate westerly winds that may occasionally become strong. In the Canary Islands, moderate winds from the north and east are expected.
Spain’s weather is increasingly marked by abrupt shifts between extreme heat and sudden storms. AEMET says these rapid transitions can complicate planning for agriculture and tourism, as well as daily life. The country’s varied geography means some regions face severe storms while others may still endure high temperatures. In recent years, Spain has experienced more frequent heatwaves and episodes of intense rainfall, reflecting greater climate volatility across the peninsula.
