Overview
- The national weather agency AEMET says the third major heatwave will begin on Tuesday, July 21, with daytime highs above 40°C across large areas and a likely peak on Thursday when isolated spots could exceed 45°C.
- Forecasters attribute the event to a stationary high‑pressure system that will trap hot, dry North African air over the peninsula and carry a plume of Saharan dust known as Calima.
- AEMET has raised the national fire‑danger index to “extreme” as vegetation dries out, and major blazes are active in Zaragoza and Guadalajara after a deadly Almeria fire earlier this month killed 13 people.
- Health and emergency services are issuing strict safety guidance for the elderly, outdoor workers and children to stay hydrated, avoid midday sun and seek cool places as tropical nights limit overnight relief.
- Mainland Spain recorded its hottest June 1–July 15 on record at an average 24.5°C, 3.3°C above the 1991–2020 baseline, a trend scientists link to human‑driven climate change that increases heatwave frequency and wildfire risk.