A new heat wave is forecast to arrive, with projections from AEMET suggesting a fourth heat event of the season across the Peninsula and the Balearic Islands. Temperatures are expected to climb 5 to 10 degrees Celsius above normal this weekend, and in some northern regions values may reach about 15 degrees above typical levels. The hot spell should begin this Sunday and extend through Tuesday, intensifying in the country’s newly warm zones.
Rubén del Campo, a spokesperson for the State Meteorological Service, confirms that Spain is tracking its fourth heat wave of the season. Most areas are projected to exceed 35°C, and tropical nights — when overnight temperatures stay above 20°C — will affect many locations. Inland areas in the central and southern peninsula, along with parts of the Mediterranean, will see especially warm nights with overnight lows above 25°C. In total, three days of unusually high daytime and nighttime temperatures are anticipated during this period (AEMET).
Maximums will approach 40°C in the Ebro, Tagus, Guadiana, and Guadalquivir valleys, among others, while the Mediterranean coastline could record slightly lower peaks. The overall feel may be oppressive due to high humidity, creating a dense heat sensation even where measurements are not extreme.
Forecast imagery highlights pronounced anomalies for Sunday, showing intense maximum temperatures and a notable spike in surface temperature maps (AEMET).
Notes from the forecast point to a broad spread of heat across much of the country, with a weekend air mass anchored by high pressure over the Iberian Peninsula. Dust in the atmosphere may further reduce air quality and sharpen the sense of heat (AEMET).
Extreme fire risk
AEMET does not rule out this heat period becoming the fourth heat wave of the summer and cautions about the elevated fire risk due to low precipitation, high temperatures, and drying conditions across the landscape (AEMET).
Regarding rainfall, the spokesperson notes that precipitation will be limited by persistent anticyclonic conditions that foster dry and sunny weather for most areas, even as a weather front moves through western Galicia. Light to moderate rainfall is expected in the Cantabrian Sea region, with isolated storms possible in mountainous zones (AEMET).
Temperatures will stay high in the coming days, especially across the eastern peninsula and the Balearic Islands. From the weekend onward, heat is set to intensify and cover a large portion of the country. A new episode of unusually high values is anticipated (AEMET).
Temperatures are likely to remain above 35°C in most locations, with coastal and higher elevation areas often spared. In the low-lying northeast, central, and southern zones readings could range from 38°C to 40°C. Nights will also be very warm, rarely dipping below 25°C in many regions, with minimums staying above 20°C in the Mediterranean and some inland districts (AEMET).
The heat persists into early next week
Looking ahead, daytime temperatures are expected to rise on Monday and then stabilize for most areas, though the Cantabrian fringe may continue to climb on Tuesday. The spokesperson warns of very hot days with daytime values 5 to 10°C above normal nationwide, and in the northern third of the country increases of 10 to 15°C above typical figures (AEMET).
Further, the daily maximums will push above 35°C in most places, with values between 38°C and 40°C likely in the lower parts of the northeast, central, and southern zones of the peninsula (AEMET).
The nights will be exceptionally warm as well. Across much of the country, overnight temperatures will fail to dip below 25°C, with some Mediterranean areas and interior eastern and southern districts staying around 20°C (AEMET).
The temperature decline is expected to begin after Wednesday, accompanied by growing instability and the potential for storms of varying intensity according to the spokesperson (AEMET).
In the Canaries, temperatures will rise over the weekend, accompanied by the arrival of dust suspended in the air. Northeasterly winds will blow along the coast and easterly winds over higher terrain. Skies in the archipelago will be mostly slightly to partly cloudy, with maximums reaching up to 34°C in Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, and some mid-sized zones elsewhere, as readings continue to trend upward into the following week (AEMET).
— Notes from the weather service indicate ongoing high heat through the coming days. Additional advisories will be issued as conditions evolve, with emphasis on staying hydrated and limiting outdoor activity during peak heat hours (AEMET).
In the absence of contact addresses or publication dates, readers are advised to monitor official updates from the national meteorological agency for the latest guidance on heat risk and safety recommendations (AEMET).