Mainland Spain has officially endured its hottest summer since records began in 1961, according to confirmation from the national weather agency, Aemet. Throughout the months of June, July, and August, the country experienced an unprecedented 61 heatwave days. The average temperature for this three-month period reached 24.5C, which is 0.3C higher than the previous record set in 2025 and 2.4C above the 1991-2020 reference period.
Aemet noted that all of the 10 hottest summers documented in Spain have occurred within the 21st century. The number of heatwave days recorded this year significantly surpassed the previous high of 41 days observed in 2022. Scientists have attributed these extreme, prolonged temperatures to human-driven climate change, which has intensified heatwaves across the European continent.
The extreme heat extended beyond the traditional summer season, with high temperatures occurring in late May and early September. On September 2nd, the southwestern municipality of El Granado reached 45.7C, matching the monthly temperature record and serving as the highest temperature recorded in Spain for the year. This intense heat has had significant consequences, including tens of thousands of excess deaths across Europe, disruptions to daily life, and economic impacts caused by drought and low river levels.
Dry conditions and high heat created ideal environments for wildfires. According to the European Forest Fire Information System, nearly 296,000 hectares, or 731,000 acres, had burned in Spain as of September 2nd. In late July, a significant blaze located dozens of kilometres west of Madrid necessitated the evacuation of tens of thousands of residents, with authorities identifying it as the largest wildfire in Spain's recent history.
