TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Spain is preparing for its third heat wave of the summer, with forecasters warning that temperatures could climb above 45 degrees Celsius this week, raising the risk of wildfires and putting millions of people under extreme heat conditions.
According to Spain's State Meteorological Agency (Aemet), the heat wave is expected to begin on Tuesday and last at least through Thursday, when temperatures are forecast to peak. The southeastern third of the Iberian Peninsula is expected to experience the most severe conditions, while the Guadalquivir and Ebro valleys, inland Mallorca, and parts of the Pyrenees are also likely to face extreme heat.
Aemet said a mass of hot, dry air carrying Saharan dust will spread across much of mainland Spain and the Balearic Islands, pushing daytime temperatures well above seasonal averages.
As reported by Anadolu, inland areas in southeastern Spain could see temperatures of 41C to 43C on Tuesday, with some locations exceeding 44C. Similar conditions are forecast for Wednesday before reaching their peak on Thursday, when temperatures are expected to range between 42C and 44C, with isolated areas potentially surpassing 45C.
The Guadalquivir Valley and the Genil basin are among the regions expected to record the highest readings during the heat wave.
Authorities also warned that the combination of soaring temperatures, dry conditions, and occasional dry thunderstorms could drive wildfire danger to extreme levels, particularly across southern and southeastern Spain.
Meteorologists said temperatures are likely to decline from Friday, although uncertainty remains over how quickly cooler conditions will arrive. Aemet noted that the heat wave could extend beyond Thursday depending on atmospheric developments.
The upcoming episode follows two earlier heat waves that affected Spain between June 21 and 24 and July 5 and 9, continuing a pattern of increasingly frequent and earlier summer heat events.
According to Aemet's climate records, mainland Spain experienced only two June heat waves between 1975 and 2000, compared with 10 between 2000 and 2025.
The Severe Weather Europe noted that the exceptional heat is being fueled by a powerful heat dome anchored over southwestern Europe. The persistent high-pressure system, reinforced by a cut-off low-pressure area over the Atlantic, is drawing extremely hot and dry air directly from the Sahara Desert across the Iberian Peninsula.
Meteorologists said localized downslope, or foehn, winds could further intensify temperatures across southern and eastern Spain, particularly in the Guadalquivir and Ebro valleys, Murcia, and Castilla-La Mancha, where compressing air masses can significantly increase surface temperatures.
Some weather models suggest localized temperatures could briefly approach 46C to 47C, placing several regional records within reach.
Spain's national temperature record stands at 47.6C, recorded in La Rambla, Córdoba, during the historic August 2021 heat wave. Murcia reached 47C during the same event, while Castilla-La Mancha recorded 45.5C and Zaragoza Airport reached 44.5C.
The European all-time temperature record remains 48.8C, measured in Syracuse, Sicily, Italy, on August 11, 2021, and officially recognized by the World Meteorological Organization.
Meteorologists caution that, beyond record-breaking daytime temperatures, the prolonged heat is expected to produce tropical nights, with overnight temperatures remaining above 25C in many urban and southern regions. The lack of nighttime cooling increases health risks, particularly for older adults and vulnerable populations.
The prolonged heat is also expected to place additional strain on agriculture, water resources, and electricity demand as households and businesses rely more heavily on cooling systems.
Experts said heat domes have become an increasingly common driver of extreme summer temperatures across Europe. Under such weather patterns, sinking air traps heat near the surface, preventing cooler air from circulating and allowing temperatures to build over several consecutive days.
Read: Spain: Firefighters Battle Major Wildfire North of Madrid
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