Spain’s long stretch of extreme heat is expected to give way to severe weather. Meteorologists forecast more high temperatures across much of the country on Friday, followed by storms, hail and sudden gusts on Saturday, especially in the northwest and central regions. The national meteorological agency, AEMET, kept yellow and orange heat warnings in place for several areas from September 2 to 4, with some regions forecast to reach 42 to 43°C as a hot, dry air mass carrying Saharan dust moved in.
The basic concern is a small, unpredictable DANA, an isolated high-altitude depression, approaching from the Atlantic. Experts describe the system as weak but difficult to predict. It is expected to break down the hot air dome that has dominated the peninsula. As the DANA interacts with the overheated land, it will bring instability and help form strong storm cells. Official forecasts reported by EFE and other Spanish media say cloud cover and unstable conditions will increase by the end of the week, with isolated thunderstorms and heavy showers likely in the southwest and central parts of the country.
In August, an estimated 2,149 people died in Spain due to heat-related causes, information from data from AEMET and Reuters.
Meteored meteorologists expect the first signs of change Friday afternoon, with isolated showers and minor storms possible in the Gulf of Cádiz and the Cantabrian Mountains. These early storms will likely be brief and local, with little effect on the broader heatwave. The basic disruption is forecast for Saturday, when the DANA’s influence peaks and storm activity spreads across Castilla y León, Extremadura, and parts of Galicia, Asturias, Cantabria, Madrid, Castilla-La Mancha, and the Pyrenees. Independent weather bulletins and official sources agree that this small but complex DANA could trigger intense thunderstorms in these regions, with a risk of very strong wind gusts, especially near the Strait.
Saturday’s storms may bring more than rain. Forecasters warn of possible hail and strong wind gusts, along with
