Valencia experienced its hottest night on record, with temperatures not dropping below 30.9°C. Castellón also set a new minimum, as the heatwave pushed nighttime temperatures far above previous highs across much of the region.
Valencia has set a new record for its highest documented minimum nighttime temperature, with thermometers staying at or above 30.9°C overnight, information from provisional figures from the Agencia Estatal de Meteorología (Aemet). The reading surpasses the previous record of 27.5°C, reached only three times in recent years. Aemet says the minimum could still fall if afternoon storms develop, but the current reading already sets a new mark in the city’s meteorological history. The official reference point for the urban record is Aemet climate station 8416, at an elevation of 13 metres and coordinates 39°28′50″N, 0°21′59″W. The agency’s observation service publishes hourly readings, daily extremes and accumulated values from its station network.
Castellón de la Plana also endured an extraordinary night, recording a minimum of 29.5°C, its highest since at least 1911. That tops the previous record, set just days earlier, when the city recorded a minimum of 27.4°C. Aemet-Comunidad Valenciana said every measurement device in Valencia, including alcohol-based, digital and automatic sensors, recorded the same minimum temperature, supporting the reliability of the data.
Other towns across the region reported similarly extreme nighttime temperatures: Sagunt reached 31.4°C, Oliva 30.6°C, Pego 30.4°C, Alicante 28.9°C, Segorbe 28.4°C and Orihuela 28°C. These readings followed a Wednesday when daytime highs soared well above 40°C in many locations across the three provinces. By 8 a.m. Thursday, Xàtiva had already climbed to 33°C, after reaching a maximum of 44.3°C the previous day. That made it Spain’s second-hottest spot, behind Carcaixent at 44.5°C and ahead of Valencia Airport at 43.7°C. The airport reading comes from a separate Aemet station, climate station 8414A in Manises, at an elevation of 56 metres, distinct from the urban Valencia station.
A strong westerly wind drove the exceptional heat overnight from Wednesday to Thursday, keeping temperatures between 35°C and 37°C across much of the Comunitat Valenciana at midnight. Local readings peaked at 39°C in Dénia and Ràfol d’Almúnia. The Associació Valenciana de Meteorologia (Avamet) reported that nearly 100 towns in the region saw midnight temperatures above 35°C. Several, including Valencia, Quart de Poblet, Picanya, Tavernes de la Valldigna, Parcent, Redován, Benirredrà, la Vilavella, Gandia, Oliva, Cullera, Pego, Pedreger, Favara, Corbera, Orba, Sagra, Dénia and Ràfol d’Almúnia, exceeded 37°C.
These extreme nighttime temperatures fit a broader pattern of intense heatwaves affecting Spain in recent years. A related report on the resurgence of high temperatures and fire risks across the country described repeated warnings from authorities as heat events grow more frequent and severe. A later regional report citing Aemet data recorded 111 tropical nights in Alicante in 2026 at the Ciudad Jardín station, where records date back to 1939. A tropical night is one when the temperature does not fall below 20°C. The report also said Alicante first exceeded 100 such nights in 2025. It counted 15 especially hot nights at the Alicante observatory, 20 in Castelló de la Plana and 30 in València. Avamet separately reported 132 tropical nights in Benidorm. The regional report noted that unusually warm sea temperatures coincided with records for very warm nights at the three provincial-capital observatories. The current episode in Valencia and Castellón adds to the strain on residents and local infrastructure, as persistent heat affects daily life, energy consumption and public health.
Spain’s Mediterranean coast, including the Valencian Community, is particularly vulnerable to prolonged heat because of its climate and urban density. Nighttime temperatures above 30°C are rare and can strain cooling systems, disrupt sleep and raise health risks, especially for vulnerable populations. The continued run of record-breaking heat makes adaptation measures and timely public information impressive to limiting the effects of extreme weather on communities.
