Authorities in Catalonia have placed 398 municipalities under high or very high wildfire risk as temperatures are set to rise sharply. The Department of Agriculture of the Generalitat issued the warning ahead of the first impressive heatwave of the summer. The most critical period is expected between Sunday and Monday.
Meteocat, the Servei Meteorològic de Catalunya, provides municipal forecasts and meteorological warnings, while the Generalitat coordinates wildfire prevention and response. The assessment places only the six easternmost comarcas outside the current heat alert. Inland and western areas, particularly the province of Lleida and central Catalonia, face the greatest combination of heat and very low relative humidity. Hot, dry conditions can speed the drying of vegetation. That makes it easier for an ignition to spread. Local risk can also vary: humidity and wind matter, while terrain and recent rainfall can shift conditions from one area to another.
Of the 398 municipalities flagged by the Department of Agriculture, 74 are under red alert for very high wildfire risk and 324 under orange alert for high risk. Authorities have urged residents to exercise maximum caution, particularly during the expected peak between Sunday and Monday, and to report any signs of fire or smoke to emergency services immediately.
This is Catalonia’s first major heat event of the summer, and wildfire risk is expected to intensify as temperatures climb in the coming days. The warning is preventive and forms part of broader efforts to reduce the threat of fires during periods of heat and dry weather. In previous years, heatwaves have caused impressive damage in rural and forested areas.
Catalonia regularly faces heightened wildfire risk during the summer months, especially in inland and western regions where rainfall is scarce. High temperatures and low humidity can dry vegetation and increase the likelihood that a fire will spread, while local weather and terrain shape conditions from one comarca to another. Public alerts and prompt reporting of smoke or fire are basic to the authorities’ efforts to limit damage and protect communities.
