# Climate extremes and wildfire risks in Spain

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/climate-extremes-and-wildfire-risks-in-spain
> Updated: 2026-09-21T09:00:18.000Z. Sources: 10. Developments: 2.

Spain continues to face escalating climate risks and extreme weather patterns. During the summer of 2026, the Comunitat Valenciana recorded its warmest August on record, with average temperatures reaching 26.5 degrees Celsius. Extreme heat triggered red alerts in coastal areas of Valencia and Alicante, where temperatures in locations such as Carcaixent and Xàtiva exceeded 44 degrees Celsius. These rising temperatures have been linked to record levels of heat-related mortality in 2026.

New research published in ‘Environmental Research Letters’ by scientists from Vrije Universiteit Brussel and the University of Murcia highlights a significant long-term increase in wildfire risk. The study warns that children born in Europe in 2025 will face much higher lifetime exposure to extreme fire weather compared to those born in 1950, with an estimated 84% increase in exposure. Approximately 86% of this increase is attributed to climate change.

The impact is most acute in the Mediterranean region, where those born in 2025 could face up to 2.5 times the lifetime exposure of the 1950 generation. Specifically in Spain, a child born in 2025 is projected to experience 7.3 years of weather conditions favorable to wildfires, representing a 108.5% increase over the previous generation. These projections are based on a scenario where global temperatures rise by 2.6 degrees Celsius by 2100.

## Claims

- The study's projections are based on a scenario where global temperatures rise by 2.6 degrees Celsius by 2100. (corroborated by 5 sources)
- A child born in Europe in 2025 will experience 3.2 additional years of extreme fire weather compared to someone born in 1950. (corroborated by 4 sources)
- A child born in Spain in 2025 is estimated to experience 7.3 years of wildfire-favorable weather conditions. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- Mediterranean regions face up to 2.5 times the lifetime exposure to extreme fire weather compared to the 1950 generation. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- Extreme fire weather is defined by the Fire Weather Index exceeding the 95th percentile of the 1985–2014 reference period. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- Approximately 86% of the increase in wildfire-favorable weather is attributed to climate change. (single source)

## Timeline

### 2026-09-21: Europe faces rising wildfire weather exposure for new generations

New research warns that children born in Europe in 2025 will face significantly higher lifetime exposure to extreme wildfire-favorable weather, particularly in the Mediterranean, due to climate change.

7 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/spain-faces-increased-wildfire-risk-for-new-generations

### 2026-09-03: Spain faces record heatwaves and social crises in summer 2026

Spain is experiencing a summer of extremes in 2026, with record-breaking heat in the Comunitat Valenciana and migratory and territorial crises in Ceuta.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/spain-faces-record-heatwaves-and-social-crises-in-summer-2026

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Cite as: Climate extremes and wildfire risks in Spain. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/climate-extremes-and-wildfire-risks-in-spain