Spain endures extreme heat wave as temperatures soar to 42°C

A severe heat wave is gripping Spain, with the Agencia Estatal de Meteorología (AEMET) issuing orange alerts for Andalusia where temperatures are expected to reach 40‑42 °C in places such as Córdoba, Montoro and Marmolejo. Madrid may see peaks of 39‑40 °C and a Level‑2 health alert, while the northeast and southeast experience thunderstorms, occasional hail and strong wind gusts. A contrasting frontogenetic pattern is forecast to bring cooler air to northern and central Spain later in the week, but the high‑temperature dome will dominate through the weekend.

In Chile, a cold front is bringing rain, snow and sub‑zero temperatures to Santiago and the central valleys, with forecasts of frost and light snow in the pre‑Andean zones. The Maule region will shift from rain to freezing nights, and the Coquimbo area faces possible heavy rain and snow. In Argentina’s Chivilcoy, an August storm delivered 35 mm of rain, a significant share of the month’s average.

The combined weather events affect millions, raise health and safety concerns, and trigger alerts across the Iberian Peninsula and parts of South America.