Spain has experienced its most intense heatwave on record, lasting 16 days from August 3 to 18, the country’s State Meteorological Agency (AEMET) has reported. Temperatures during this period averaged 4.6°C above previous heatwaves, breaking the record set in July 2022.
The extreme heat worsened conditions for wildfires, which are still affecting northern and western Spain. The Carlos III Health Institute estimates that the heatwave has claimed over 1,100 lives.
Since 1975, AEMET has recorded 77 heatwaves, with six of them exceeding 4°C above average — five of which occurred after 2019, signaling a rise in extreme summer temperatures.
A particularly severe stretch from August 8 to 17 marked the hottest ten consecutive days in Spain since at least 1950. Scientists link these trends to climate change, which is causing heatwaves to become longer, hotter, and more frequent worldwide.
“Summers won’t always be hotter than the last, but the pattern toward extreme heat is clear. Adapting to and addressing climate change is crucial,” the agency said.
