Spain's First Summer Heatwave Peaks Tuesday With Red Alerts in Five Provinces

Spain reaches the peak of its first summer heatwave on Tuesday, with five provinces under red alert and daytime highs forecast to reach or exceed 42°C in parts of the country. The State Meteorological Agency issued red warnings for inland areas of the Basque Country, Cantabria and parts of Andalusia.

Orange warnings cover roughly ten additional regions, including Madrid where temperatures are expected to reach about 40°C and Extremadura and the Ebro corridor where readings may exceed 41°C from midday.

Nighttime temperatures are forecast to remain above 25°C across much of the country. The heat coincides with elevated wildfire risk, with active fires reported in Catalonia and extreme alerts in place for Castilla-La Mancha, the Valencian Community and Galicia.

Forest fires have burned 37,968 hectares between 1 January and 14 June, according to the Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge.

That total is 2.8 times the area recorded in the same period of 2025 and 24.9% above the decade average. The Basque Country Department of Security declared a pre-emergency situation and advised councils to avoid lighting fires near woodland. Municipalities including Sopela, Getxo, Barakaldo, Santurtzi, Gernika and Amorebieta cancelled their San Juan bonfires.

Bilbao authorised fires only on concrete surfaces in urban areas with reinforced safety measures. Meteorologists expect cooler air to arrive Thursday and return temperatures to seasonal norms.