Spain braces for heatwave with temperatures to exceed 40 degrees

Spain is due to experience its first heatwave of the year, with maximum temperatures surpassing 40 degrees Celsius, according to predictions on Friday by the state weather service AEMET.

From Saturday, 75% of all municipalities in the country are forecast a low, medium or high health risk. The hottest temperatures, reaching up to 43 degrees, are expected in the southern province of Andalusia.

However, people around Zaragoza in the north-east should also prepare for high temperatures.

People are advised not to leave the house during the hottest times of day, if possible. Even at night there is no real relief, however, with temperatures set to remain above 30 degrees, even after midnight.

During such tropical nights, it only cools down to about 25 degrees in the early morning, with temperatures starting to rise again after around 6 am.

The heatwave could last until Thursday.

Intense heat periods are now occurring earlier in the year, with experts attributing the cause to human-induced climate change.

According to AEMET, only two heatwaves were recorded in June between 1975 and 2000, while nine have occurred between 2000 and 2024.

This year, by May already, temperatures of around 40 degrees Celsius were occurring – weather that is more usual in August.