Temperatures may rise above 35 degrees in parts of Spain on 22 September as high pressure keeps most of the country under clear skies. The sharpest heat will affect southwestern Galicia, the southern Atlantic areas of the peninsula and the Canary Islands. The weather will stay settled, but temperatures will remain unusually high for this time of year. AEMET says the persistent anticyclone will lead strong daytime warming. Cloud cover will be limited, and rain almost entirely absent.
The contrast will be clearest between the hot south and the cooler northern coast. AEMET expects maximum temperatures to fall slightly across the northern half of the peninsula. The drop will be more noticeable along the Galician coast and in eastern Catalonia. Temperatures will continue to rise in the south and the Balearic Islands, with impressive increases expected in the southeast.
The average temperature of summer 2026 on the Iberian Peninsula reached 24.5°C, 2.4°C above the 1991-2020 average and higher than the previous record set in 2025, AEMET reported.
Clear skies will not tell the whole story. The basic pattern will be stable and sunny, but several coastal areas may see low cloud or mist in the morning. Isolated fog is also possible.
The northern coast of Galicia and Asturias will have cloudy periods, with a chance of coastal haze. Morning low cloud may also form around the Strait of Gibraltar and the Alboran Sea, where isolated fog is possible. A brief drizzle may fall near the Strait.
The Canary Islands will have high cloud, with a layer of dust haze likely at altitude. Lanzarote and Fuerteventura could see a weak shower, and an occasional thunderstorm is possible. These local conditions will interrupt an otherwise dry and settled forecast across much of the country.
The 22 September forecast formed part of a broader heat episode, rather than an isolated warm day. AEMET-related outlooks for 16-22 September indicated possible peaks of 35-40°C, particularly in southern areas and some inland locations. Official temperature warnings were reported in several autonomous communities. Andalusia and Aragon were among them, as were Castile and León, Castile-La Mancha and Catalonia. Reports also covered Extremadura, Madrid and the Canary Islands.
Night-time temperatures are expected to change little across mainland Spain. The Canary Islands should see a slight rise. Most of the heat will be felt in the afternoon, with little broad change in overnight temperatures.
Wind will create another regional divide. Moderate easterly winds are forecast over the Alboran Sea, with strong intervals in the Strait. Northerly winds will dominate the Canary Islands and the Ampurdán. They are also expected across northern parts of the Balearic Islands and along the Galician coast. Inland areas will mainly have light winds from the north and east.
For residents and visitors, the practical message is clear. Clear weather will dominate, but the most exposed southern and Atlantic locations should prepare for unusually high afternoon temperatures. The forecast does not describe a nationwide episode of extreme weather. It does show a marked regional split, with heat building in the south while northern coasts see cooler temperatures and more cloud. Reports of official warnings also point to increased attention to heat-related risks in several autonomous communities. Local forecasts will matter more than the national average.
The weather picture for 22 September has two basic features: stable conditions across most of Spain and exceptional warmth in selected regions. AEMET expects the hottest conditions in southwestern Galicia, the southern Atlantic areas and the Canary Islands. Fog and cloud will stay focused on specific coastal zones, where wind and possible showers may also occur. The record-hot summer and earlier September forecasts point to a wider period of unusual warmth, extending beyond a sunny day. Spain will be broadly calm, but temperatures will vary sharply by region.
