Spain engulfed by heat wave as temps near 40 °C and storms lash regions

The Spanish State Meteorological Agency (Aemet) has issued yellow and orange alerts across large parts of the country as a heat wave pushes maximum temperatures toward 40 °C and, in some interior valleys of Valencia, up to 44 °C. The extreme heat is accompanied by severe thunderstorms that have produced hailstones up to two centimetres in diameter, wind gusts exceeding 70 km/h, localized flooding and lightning‑induced fires in the Valencian Community, Galicia and Cantabria. Several cultural events, including festivals in Santiago de Compostela and concerts in Santander, were suspended or cancelled because of the dangerous weather.

Fire risk has risen sharply. Rural fire protection agencies have activated level‑4 alerts in 72 municipalities across 14 comarques of Catalonia, with level‑3 alerts in 187 municipalities, and have reinforced firefighting resources nationwide. Saharan dust is expected to drift over the eastern and Mediterranean coasts, degrading air quality. Forecasts indicate that the heat wave will persist through mid‑week, with temperatures remaining above 38 °C in many inland areas and night‑time minima staying above 25 °C along the coast. The situation is expected to ease slightly in the western half of the peninsula, but the eastern and southern regions will continue to experience the highest temperatures and a heightened risk of fire and thunderstorms.