Spain is facing widespread heat alerts, with the Agencia Estatal de Meteorología (AEMET) issuing orange warnings for Andalusia and Catalonia as temperatures are set to exceed seasonal norms. The alerts come ahead of a heat surge expected on September 6, raising concerns about health risks and pressure on emergency services and coastal operations.
Ten other autonomous communities, Aragón, Castilla y León, Castilla-La Mancha, Extremadura, Madrid, Navarra, País Vasco, La Rioja, Comunidad Valenciana, and the Balearic Islands, are under yellow warnings for high temperatures. Catalonia, while under an orange alert, will also see periods of yellow status, reflecting the heatwave’s uneven but widespread reach.
On September 4, AEMET recorded 45.7°C in El Granado (Extremadura), matching Spain's all-time September heat record.
Forecasts point to the most severe heat in the south and northeast, as well as the islands. The Guadalquivir basin could reach 40°C, while large parts of the south and northeast are expected to top 35°C. In some areas of Andalusia, Castilla-La Mancha, and Extremadura, AEMET expects temperatures of 42 to 43°C or higher, making this heatwave especially intense.
Other hazards are also in play. Andalusia remains under yellow alert for dangerous coastal conditions, while the Canary Islands are preparing for strong trade winds and Saharan dust (calima). AEMET has also warned of possible intense storms in the Cantabrian area, the upper Ebro, northern Iberian regions, and the eastern part of the northern plateau. The agency says the alerts are preventive, intended to help the public and authorities prepare, and do not automatically mean a state of emergency.
A subtropical air mass will dominate the eastern half and far south of the peninsula, bringing periods of mid and high clouds that should clear during the day. Elsewhere, a DANA (isolated high-level depression) will bring more cloud cover from midday, with scattered showers and storms likely in the northwest and central-northern regions.
In August, Spain attributed 2,149 deaths to heat, Reuters reported. The figure highlights the public health impact of extreme temperatures and the scrutiny surrounding current heatwaves.
Morning fog and low clouds are expected along the Galician coast, Ceuta, and Melilla. The Balearic Islands will have mostly clear skies, while the Canary Islands will see variable clouds, with a chance of rain or storms at higher elevations.
Despite the daytime heat, maximum temperatures will drop in most areas, especially in western Galicia. But, the Balearic Islands, eastern coast, Cantabrian coast, and southwestern regions will see further increases. Nights will bring little relief: much of the south and northeast will have "tropical nights," with minimum temperatures staying above 25°C in parts of the Canary Islands, Guadalquivir, and Mediterranean coast. AEMET has linked this to health risks, warning that nighttime temperatures will stay above 20°C in many inland areas, potentially worsening health problems, especially for vulnerable groups.
Wind will add to the challenges. The Canary Islands will have very strong trade winds, the Cantabrian coast will get moderate westerlies, and the Strait of Gibraltar will see strong easterly gusts. Elsewhere, light westerly winds will dominate, except along the Mediterranean, where winds will shift from the east and south. Along with the heat, AEMET warns of strong storms, gusty winds, Saharan dust, and dangerous coastal conditions, raising risks for transport, emergency services, and coastal infrastructure.
Recent weather extremes have already set records in Spain. Barcelona recently broke a century-old September heat record, as reported earlier. The current alerts point to increasingly volatile weather, forcing authorities to adapt quickly to changing risks.
Spain’s response to these threats will test public readiness and how quickly institutions can act. With heat, wind, storms, and coastal dangers overlapping, local and regional authorities will need to turn forecasts into action, especially for those most at risk. In the coming days, Spain’s systems will face the pressure of extreme weather as authorities determine whether further changes are needed.
