Spain’s meteorological agency issues heat alerts as temperatures forecast to reach 42 °C next week

The State Meteorological Agency issued a warning on Friday for the second heatwave of summer 2026, which begins Sunday and is forecast to last at least until Tuesday. Euronews reported that temperatures could reach 42°C in river valleys in the southwest of mainland Spain.

Monday is expected to be the harshest day, with highs of 39–41°C widespread across the southwestern quadrant and peaks of 42°C in river valleys.

Forecasts also call for 38–40°C in the Minho valley, 37–39°C in the interior of A Coruña, and 37–40°C on the southern plateau, in the Ebro valley, and in northeastern depressions. Further rises are projected for the eastern Cantabrian area. On Saturday AEMET activated an orange heatwave alert for Seville, Huelva, and Jaén and a yellow alert for Cádiz and Granada, where temperatures are likely to hit 40°C in several districts.

A yellow alert for gusts of Levante wind is also in effect along the Cádiz coastline and the Strait of Gibraltar. The General Directorate of Emergencies of the Canary Islands government declared a forest-fire risk alert for Gran Canaria and Tenerife starting Sunday.

By Tuesday the entire eastern province of the Canary Islands will move to orange alert while the rest of the islands remain on yellow.

Euronews reported that the first heatwave of summer 2026 is estimated by the MoMo monitoring system to have caused nearly 900 deaths in June. Minimum temperatures over the coming days are forecast to hover around 20–26°C with peaks of 27–28°C, producing tropical nights across much of the country. The INFOCA plan remains active at pre-alert level in Andalusia.

Temperatures are expected to begin falling from Thursday onward.