Spain is enduring its third major heatwave of the summer, with the Agencia Estatal de Meteorología (AEMET) issuing orange alerts as temperatures soar across eastern and southern Spain, as well as the Balearic Islands. Highs of 37°C to 41°C are widespread, while interior areas of Valencia and Murcia could reach 44°C. The current episode, which began Tuesday, is expected to be brief, with temperatures forecast to drop from Friday and a rare respite on Saturday. AEMET’s Meteoalerta system is Spain’s national structure for forecasting and monitoring hazardous weather; it provides territorial warnings by phenomenon, with forecasts extending up to 72 hours.
The heatwave is driven by a mass of hot, dry air laden with Saharan dust, which has spread from the southeast and Balearic Islands across much of the country. Combined with intense summer sunshine, it is pushing temperatures to exceptional levels, especially across the southeastern third and the Guadalquivir and Ebro valleys, as well as northeastern depressions, Pyrenean valleys and Mallorca’s interior. AEMET spokesperson Rubén del Campo said Wednesday would bring the most widespread high temperatures, while Thursday could see the peak, particularly in the Mediterranean region, where local records may be challenged.
Alongside the heat, calima, dust suspended in the air from North Africa, has left skies hazy and air quality diminished. Del Campo warns that these fine particles can penetrate deep into the respiratory system and even enter the bloodstream, posing health risks for vulnerable groups. Smoke from impressive wildfires in central Spain is further thickening the haze.
Scattered storms are expected in eastern Spain, but most will be dry, producing little or no rain. They may bring lightning or hail, along with strong gusts, increasing the risk of new fires. Mud rain is possible in some areas, but dry thunderstorms remain the basic concern. No impressive rainfall is forecast for the Sierra Norte de Guadalajara, where a major wildfire has already consumed nearly 30,000 hectares. Most storm activity will be concentrated farther east, particularly in the Valencian Community.
Cooler weather is expected by Friday, when an Atlantic air mass should move in, shift winds to the west and lower temperatures by 4 to 5 degrees. While some regions will remain warm, western Spain could feel unusually cool for July on Saturday, with highs of just 30°C to 32°C. This would be the first day since June 1, when the climatological summer began, that temperatures fall below the seasonal average, ending a persistent pattern of above-normal heat.
This summer has already set multiple records for daytime and nighttime temperatures. Between June 1 and July 15, Spain experienced its hottest early summer since records began, surpassing the extreme heat of 2015. Several weather stations have reported their highest minimum temperatures for July, with many nights failing to fall below 20°C or even 25°C. Bilbao Airport recorded a July minimum of 22.3°C on July 10, exceeding the previous record set in 2024. Logroño Airport reached 23.9°C on July 12, while Vitoria-Gasteiz saw its warmest July night since 1973, with a minimum of 20.4°C. Girona and Lleida airports also broke records, registering 24.4°C and 25.7°C, respectively, and Murcia reported a minimum of 26.9°C on July 16. On July 19, A Coruña Airport experienced its first tropical night in July since 1972, and Castelló-Almassora did not fall below 26.9°C. AEMET’s station-observation service presents hourly readings for the previous 24 hours, alongside daily extremes and accumulated values; regional station pages also provide daily summaries for the preceding seven days. Those observations distinguish measured temperatures from forecasts of potential highs.
Spain continues to grapple with heat and dust, alongside wildfire risk. Calima and the threat of dry storms have become recurring challenges, as highlighted in recent coverage of Saharan dust and muddy rains affecting the country. For further context on how these weather patterns have disrupted daily life and air quality, see the report on Saharan dust and muddy rains sweeping across Spain.
Record-breaking heat and persistent dust, coupled with limited rainfall, have heightened concerns about public health and wildfire management, while also testing infrastructure ability to recover. AEMET’s national observation network records hourly conditions, daily extremes and accumulated values, while Meteoalerta provides the official structure for monitoring hazardous weather and issuing territorial warnings. Residents and authorities are watching conditions as the country awaits the expected relief later this week.
