Spain faces third summer heat wave with temperatures up to 45 °C

The Spanish State Meteorological Agency (AEMET) has issued a special alert for a third heat wave of the summer, expected to begin on 21 July and last at least until 23 July, with the possibility of extending longer. The agency forecasts maximum temperatures of up to 45 °C in parts of the southern‑eastern peninsula, including the Guadalquivir and Ebro valleys, the northeast depressions, the Pyrenees, and the interior of Mallorca. The heat is driven by a reinforced atmospheric blocking pattern and a southerly flow of hot, dry, dust‑laden air from North Africa.

AEMET warns of a “significant danger level” for outdoor activities and vulnerable groups such as the elderly and people with cardiovascular disease. The alert also triggers high‑risk forest‑fire warnings, especially in Catalonia, where strong winds combined with the heat raise the fire‑danger on Monday. In Mallorca, the agency has placed orange warnings on the interior of the island, with maximums expected between 38 °C and 41 °C and night‑time temperatures staying above 25 °C.

Health authorities stress that heat‑related mortality could rise sharply, as more than 600 excess deaths were recorded during Spain’s earlier heat waves this summer. The agency urges the public to stay hydrated, avoid strenuous outdoor work during peak hours, and follow local heat‑alert updates.