Spain is preparing to welcome summer with a heat episode that could become the first heatwave of 2026. Starting this weekend, thermometers will soar in much of the country, and numerous areas will record values typical of late July or early August, with maximums exceeding 40 degrees Celsius and nights where it will be difficult to drop below 20 ºC.
The State Meteorological Agency (Aemet) warns that this is a very significant episode due to its intensity, duration, and the wide geographical area affected. Even in some parts of the northern half of the peninsula, temperatures could be more than ten degrees above the usual values for these dates. Given this situation, Civil Protection has also warned of an increased risk of forest fires and has asked for extreme caution.
Storms before the big temperature rise
The heat will coexist with some atmospheric instability in the coming hours. This Friday, nine communities will remain on alert for high temperatures, while another six will also be under alert for storms, some of them accompanied by strong gusts of wind and hail.
The storms will mainly affect areas of the Cantabrian mountain range, the Iberian system, and areas of the plateau, while the warmest weather will be concentrated in the south and the peninsular interior, especially in the Guadalquivir and Guadiana valleys, where maximums could already approach 40 degrees.
In addition, the presence of calima will leave somewhat murkier skies in the east of the Peninsula and the Balearic Islands, while in the Canary Islands, cloudy intervals will prevail in the north and a clearer atmosphere on the southern slopes.
Sunday will mark the start of summer with extraordinary heat
The situation will intensify over the weekend. On Saturday, temperatures will already exceed 35 degrees in large areas of the country, and nighttime temperatures will barely drop below 20 ºC in many capitals. Cities like Seville, Cordoba, Lleida, or Zaragoza could reach or exceed 40 degrees.
On Sunday, coinciding with the official start of astronomical summer, heat will extend to practically the entire territory. Forecasts point to an exceptionally warm day, with extreme temperatures in wide areas of the center, the Ebro valley, and the southern half of the peninsula. Among the cities that could exceed 40 degrees are Badajoz, Córdoba, Granada, Jaén, Lleida, Toledo, Zaragoza, and Ciudad Real.
Nights will not offer much relief either. Numerous areas of the country will experience tropical nights, with minimums above 20 degrees, and even torrid nights could occur in parts of Jaén, Córdoba, Ciudad Real, and Almería, where thermometers would not drop below 25 ºC.
Monday is set to be the most suffocating day
Meteorological models place the peak of the episode during Monday. In the Ebro, Tagus, Guadiana, and Guadalquivir valleys, temperatures between 39 and 42 degrees are expected, while Zaragoza and Lleida could become the hottest spots in the country, with readings close to 43 ºC.
Very high values are also expected in the Northern Plateau, where many localities will range between 36 and 38 degrees, as well as in wide areas of Castilla-La Mancha, the peninsular southeast, and the interior of Mallorca.
Given this scenario, authorities recommend reducing sun exposure during the central hours of the day, maintaining proper hydration, avoiding prolonged physical exertion outdoors, and paying special attention to the elderly, children, and those suffering from chronic diseases, groups especially vulnerable to extreme heat episodes.
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