AEMET issues special warning for Spain's second summer heatwave

AEMET has issued a special warning for Spain’s second summer heatwave of 2026, with the episode expected to begin on Sunday, July 5, and intensify through Monday, July 6.

The Spanish weather agency’s alert, reported on Friday, July 3, points to a broad stretch of very hot weather that could last at least into Tuesday, with some reporting saying it may extend into Wednesday. The warning follows Spain’s first summer heatwave in late June and marks a renewed public-health and fire-risk concern just as the weekend begins.

Forecasts point to temperatures above 40C in several inland and southern areas, with local highs above 42C possible in the Ebro valley, Extremadura and Andalusia. Galicia and the interior of the Basque Country are also expected to see a particularly sharp jump in temperatures, while the Canary Islands may warm as well, with around 35C possible in the south of Tenerife and Gran Canaria.

The timing of the heatwave

El País reported that AEMET’s special warning covers a heatwave starting on Sunday and peaking on Monday. Cadena SER and AS later corroborated the same basic timing, with Monday identified as the hottest day in the episode.

The main uncertainty is how long the warning will last. El País said the episode should run at least until Tuesday, while Cadena SER said it could continue into Wednesday, July 8. The exact end point will depend on how the weather pattern evolves over the weekend and early next week.

AEMET has said the conditions now meet heatwave criteria, meaning the event is not just a hot spell but a sustained and unusually intense episode affecting a wide area.

Where the heat will hit hardest

The strongest heat is expected in the southwest peninsula and interior regions, but the warning is notable for how far the high temperatures may spread beyond the usual hotspots. Galicia and the interior of the Basque Country stand out in the reporting as areas where the temperature rise will be especially noticeable.

The Canary Islands are also expected to heat up, despite their different geography. Forecasts cited by the outlets point to around 35C in the south of Tenerife and Gran Canaria.

Very warm nights are part of the concern. In parts of the Mediterranean coast, the south and some valley areas, temperatures may not fall below 25C, which limits overnight recovery and makes heat stress harder to shake off.

Health and fire risk

The public-health risk is highest for older adults, young children, outdoor workers and people with underlying health conditions. Warm nights can make heat exposure more dangerous because the body gets less chance to recover between daytime peaks.

AEMET also warned of a generalized increase in wildfire danger. The agency links that risk to the combination of high temperatures, dry conditions, storms and wind, which can quickly make several regions more vulnerable at once.

Cadena SER quoted AEMET spokesperson Rubén del Campo saying there will be few places to escape the heat. That reflects the scale of the episode, even if the most extreme values remain concentrated in the southwest and interior.

Spain’s Ministry of Health and AEMET use separate heat-risk alert systems to track municipal and regional danger levels. El País noted that the health framework covers 182 meteosalud zones, which helps authorities target warnings to the places most exposed to dangerous heat.

What to watch next

The key update to watch is whether AEMET extends the warning beyond the currently stated end date. Any change in the forecast over the weekend could affect how long the most dangerous conditions last.

Regional emergency guidance, public-health alerts and fire-prevention measures are also likely to be adjusted if temperatures rise further. The most closely watched areas will be the Ebro valley, Extremadura, Andalusia, Galicia, the Basque Country and parts of the Canary Islands.

The new warning comes after Spain’s first summer heatwave, which AEMET said ran from June 21 to June 24. That makes the current episode the second major heat event of the season and a fresh test for health systems, local authorities and people planning to work or travel outdoors.