The Spanish meteorological agency Aemet declared the exceptional weather event over on Thursday, following several days of record-breaking June temperatures. Spain has emerged from a historic heatwave, but extreme temperatures still pose a threat. Persistent, dangerous humid heat continues to put people at serious risk. The June episode was part of a wider European stretch of prolonged heat, with the most intense period running from June 17 to July 1.
A recent study by Climate Basic found that the number of days with hazardous humid heat in Spain has more than doubled since the 1970s, rising from 10 to 23 days per year. High temperatures combined with humidity make it harder for the body to cool itself through sweating, raising the risk of heat-related illnesses. Older adults are especially vulnerable to heatstroke and related complications. Later estimates for Spain’s full June through August season put the summer average at 24.5°C, the highest since records began in 1961, with 61 days classified as heatwave days. Researchers estimated 6,824 heat-related deaths in Spain over those three months, including 5,227 attributed to climate change. That attribution is a statistical estimate based on a counterfactual climate baseline, not a classification recorded on individual death certificates.
June 22 and 23 have entered the record books as Spain’s hottest June days since 1950. In Cantabria, the town of Tama registered 43.7°C, setting a new regional record and showing the intensity of this year's heatwave. Temperatures in Spain are beginning to drop, but relief will come slowly, and humid heat still poses a serious health concern. Unusually warm Mediterranean waters also contributed to conditions across the region: by the end of June, sea-surface temperatures were reported at 26.63°C, or 2.6°C above normal. A buoy at Dragonera, Mallorca, recorded 33.02°C.
Elsewhere in Europe, the situation remains tense. The World Meteorological Organization has forecast that abnormal heat will persist for at least two more weeks across large parts of the continent. In some regions, temperatures are expected to stay between three and ten degrees above normal, keeping much of Europe under thermal stress even as Spain begins to recover. Later analysis of the 2026 summer estimated roughly 50,000 excess deaths across urban Europe associated with unusually high temperatures. About one-third occurred during the June 17 to July 1 heatwave, when regional daily mean temperatures averaged 5.3°C above normal. Across western Europe, seasonal temperatures averaged about 2.9°C above the 1991-2020 baseline, with some days as much as 12°C above normal.
Over the past decade, Spain has seen a impressive increase in extreme weather events, with heatwaves becoming more frequent and intense. The government has introduced public health campaigns and early warning systems to help residents cope with rising temperatures. Experts stress the importance of staying hydrated and avoiding outdoor activity during peak heat, while urging people to monitor vulnerable populations. These measures are increasingly critical as climate patterns shift and heatwave risks grow, particularly when nighttime temperatures stay high and limit the body's chance to recover.
