Spain Faces Hottest Summer on Record Amid Severe Heatwaves

Spain has recorded its hottest summer since data collection began in 1961, with weeks of extreme heat pushing temperatures beyond 45°C. This intense heat has contributed to the country’s most severe wildfire season in three decades, according to the national meteorological service, AEMET (Agencia Estatal de Meteorología). The summer of 2025 was measured at an average of 24.2°C, which is 2.1°C higher than the 1991-2020 average, surpassing the previous record set in 2022 by 0.1°C.

AEMET reported that nine of the ten hottest summers in Spain have occurred in the 21st century, and more heat is expected. Spokesperson Rubén del Campo stated, “These summers of 2022 and 2025 are a trailer – or spoiler – for what could happen in the middle of the century.” The agency confirmed that Spain experienced 33 days of officially declared heatwaves this summer, with one heatwave in August lasting 16 days, the most intense recorded.

The consequences of this extreme weather have been severe. Certain regions, particularly inland areas of Galicia, experienced average temperatures nearly 3°C higher than normal. The heat has fueled wildfires that have ravaged the landscape, with data from the European Forest Fire Information System indicating that 1.03 million hectares of land burned across the EU this summer.

Wildfires have led to unprecedented carbon emissions, with the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) noting that emissions from wildfires in Spain surged dramatically during early August, surpassing all previous records since monitoring began in 2003.

The impact of the summer’s heat extended beyond wildfires. Power demand skyrocketed, crops suffered, and health authorities issued repeated warnings to protect vulnerable populations from the dangerous heat levels. AEMET also highlighted that rainfall levels were below average across much of Spain, exacerbating drought conditions in already parched regions.

Looking ahead, AEMET forecasts that the autumn months will likely be unusually warm, particularly in the northern and eastern areas of the Iberian Peninsula and the Balearic Islands. Parts of western Spain and the Canary Islands are also expected to experience drier than usual conditions.

Spain has already warmed by more than 1.5°C compared to pre-industrial levels, making it one of the most climate-vulnerable countries in Europe. The Mediterranean region is heating at a rate 20 percent faster than the global average, as reported by the United Nations.

In response to the escalating climate crisis, the Spanish government is implementing new educational policies. Starting this year, lessons on natural disasters such as floods, wildfires, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions will be mandatory for children as young as three. This initiative aims to prepare future generations for the ongoing effects of climate change.

Scientists emphasize that without significant reductions in global greenhouse gas emissions, Spain will face increasingly long and hotter summers. This trend will continue to impact public health, agriculture, and ecosystems across the region.