Spain will face its third heatwave of the summer starting Tuesday, with temperatures expected to surpass 45°C in parts of the south-eastern mainland after red warnings were already issued for Valencia and Zaragoza.
The persistent high-pressure system trapping hot, dry air from North Africa will drive temperatures above 40°C across much of the country, with conditions intensifying through Thursday's peak. Two major wildfires are already burning: one near Orés in Zaragoza province has scorched roughly 15,400 hectares, while another in Sierra Norte de Guadalajara approaches 6,000 hectares.
Mainland Spain has recorded its hottest first half of summer since measurements began in 1961, with average temperatures from 1 June to 15 July reaching 24.5°C—3.3°C above the 1991-2020 baseline and surpassing the previous record set in 2024.