Spain endures extreme heat wave as temperatures soar to 47 °C

A third summer heat wave began on 21 July 2026 across most of Spain, prompting the state meteorology agency (AEMET) to issue orange alerts for provinces such as Almería, Córdoba, Granada, Jaén and Málaga, where maximums may reach 40‑44 °C. In the southeast—Murcia, Alicante, Valencia and the Guadalquivir valley—forecasts anticipate 42‑47 °C, potentially eclipsing the historic 47.6 °C record. Yellow alerts cover much of the interior, including Extremadura, Zamora, León and parts of the Atlantic coast, with expected highs of 34‑38 °C. AEMET warns of severe health risks, noting that heat‑related deaths in Spain average 1,300 per year and urging constant hydration, avoidance of outdoor activity during peak hours, and special care for the elderly, children and chronic‑ill patients. The prolonged heat also raises fire danger, strains electricity networks, and threatens agriculture. The agency expects a cooling breeze from the northwest to arrive by 24 July, which could moderate temperatures, but the current episode remains a significant public‑health and environmental threat.