Autumn is here on paper, but Málaga is stuck in a heatwave. Temperatures are hitting 35°C inland, and meteorologists say the heat will last at least until mid-October.
In Málaga, the calendar says autumn, but the weather feels like midsummer. The veranillo de San Miguel has brought a wave of heat more common in July than late September. While most of Spain moves into autumn, Málaga faces days of high temperatures with no sign of relief.
Daytime highs in the city are holding between 28 and 30 degrees. Nights are warm too, with lows staying above 21 degrees. Inland, it is even hotter. Towns like Coín, Pizarra, Álora, and Antequera are set to reach 32 to 35 degrees. Friday could be the hottest day, with some places possibly hitting 35. Jesús Riesco, who runs the Aemet Meteorological Center in Málaga, calls these “temperatures very much above normal.”
AEMET forecasts that the probability of a warmer-than-normal autumn (September–November) is around 60% for Andalucía as a whole, and up to 70% in the eastern part of the region.
Anyone hoping for cooler weather will have to wait. “This week is going to be quite warm,” Riesco says. Aemet does not expect a real drop in temperatures soon. The forecast shows the heat sticking around, with above-normal conditions likely until at least mid-October. “The next few weeks will also be warmer, and everything is expected to behave more warmly than normal, at least until perhaps mid-October. This has become the pattern in recent years. We will continue with above-normal temperatures,” Riesco says.
The veranillo de San Miguel is a regular event in Spain. These late September days often bring a last burst of summer before autumn weather arrives. The cause is usually a strong anticyclone that blocks Atlantic storms and lets sun and warm air take over. This year, the effect is stronger than usual. Aemet warns that Andalucía could see not just higher temperatures, but also heavier rain later in the season.
According to AEMET, the heatwave is not limited to Málaga: from September 21 to 25, much of Spain is experiencing a 'fully summer-like' episode, with highs of 32–34°C in many areas and up to 36–38°C in some western valleys. Tropical nights with minimums of 21–23°C are also expected along the coast, confirming weak nighttime cooling.
As astronomical autumn starts on September 23, Spain is seeing weather that feels like midsummer. Aemet reports that some western valleys could reach 36 to 38 degrees. The forecast stays dry and stable, with little rain expected. In Málaga, beaches and pools are still busy, and summer clothes are not going away yet.
The real story is not just the heat, but how long it lasts and how little relief there is. Long warm spells at the start of autumn are now common, not rare, as Aemet’s seasonal outlook confirms. For people living in Málaga and visitors, the message is simple: autumn will feel like summer, and the city will have to adjust as the seasons blur together.
