Overview

• A mass of Saharan air has driven daytime highs close to 40°C across southern Spain in late May, weeks ahead of the typical peak season.
• The Agencia Estatal de Meteorología has issued orange and yellow alerts for 23 provinces through the weekend, affecting Sevilla, Córdoba, Jaén and other inland areas.
• Coastal and northern regions can expect milder conditions, with cities like Barcelona, Vigo and Pontevedra topping out in the high 20s to low 30s.
• Murcia’s intense heat may ease by midweek, with forecasts predicting highs below 30°C from Wednesday onward.
• A study in Nature Communications shows that sudden temperature spikes have grown sharply since 1960, contributing to summers that start earlier and last longer.