On Tuesday, Xàtiva in Valencia province recorded 41.9°C, the highest temperature anywhere in Spain that day. The reading broke local records and pushed the region into unfamiliar territory for early autumn.
Carcaixent was close behind at 41.6°C, while Montserrat reached 40.8°C. Both towns are also in Valencia. Llocnou d’en Fenollet, a neighboring town, recorded 42.6°C that day, information from AVAMET network data. Agencia Estatal de Meteorología (Aemet) data shows that Carcaixent and Montserrat both set historic September highs, beating records from 2016. Llíria, another town in the province, hit 40°C, matching heat levels last seen a decade ago.
The heat triggered an orange alert across southern Valencia province, signaling a serious risk to health and daily routines. By mid-afternoon, several towns in the pre-coastal area had already passed 40°C, prompting local authorities to closely monitor vulnerable residents and consider emergency steps. The alert is reserved for dangerous weather and signals the pressure on residents and businesses.
Historic data from Aemet shows that, before this year, such extreme September heat had been recorded in Xàtiva and Carcaixent only once, in 2016. Llíria had also reached similar levels that year. This year, Montserrat set a new mark at 40.8°C, beating its previous September record of 38.6°C. Aemet said the heat episode had lasted several days. Xàtiva had already been experiencing temperatures around 39-40°C before the September 8 spike. The orange alert reflected the immediate health risks and added strain on local services and infrastructure during the prolonged heatwave.
Beyond the immediate health risks, Valencia has faced environmental problems this year, including wildfires that damaged parts of the region, as reported earlier. Record heat and recent fire damage have raised concerns about how well local infrastructure and emergency services can handle overlapping crises.
Spain’s meteorological authorities have not said when the heat will ease. With September bringing temperatures once seen only in midsummer, Xàtiva and Carcaixent are among the towns facing serious heat risks. Montserrat is facing them too.
