Weather experts in Spain have warned of 43C highs in parts of the south this week as a searing heatwave barrels towards Iberian Peninsula.
The alert comes from Ruben del Campo, spokesperson for state weather agency Aemet, who confirmed that beginning Thursday, much of the country will undergo a ‘progressive and intense’ temperature spike.
By the weekend, large swathes of the south and northeast will be baking under relentless highs of over 40C, with inland Andalusian cities like Sevilla and Cordoba tipped to top 43C.
And it won’t let up when the sun goes down. Nights are expected to remain oppressively hot, particularly along the southern coast and in the Mediterranean, where minimum temperatures may not dip below 25C – bringing what meteorologists grimly describe as ‘torrid nights.’
Orange alerts are issued
From Wednesday to Monday, Spain is looking at a sharp increase in daily highs, as much as 12C in some areas. Aemet has already issued orange alerts in several provinces, including Sevilla, flagging a significant risk to health, especially for vulnerable populations.
By Thursday, cities like Granada, Cordoba, and Sevilla will already be feeling the heat, with temperatures climbing from the low 30s into the high 30s.
Sevilla and Cordoba will hover around 38C, while coastal Cadiz will fare slightly better at 28C – although that too will feel heavy under the region’s rising humidity. On the Costa del Sol, highs will actually lower to around 30C following the departure of the hot terral wind.
From Friday to Monday, Sevilla and Cordoba will easily breach 40C, while Cadiz and Almeria will sit at a still-stifling 32C.
The Costa del Sol will also see highs of 32C over the weekend.
Nights will be tropical with temperatures refusing to drop below the mid-20s.
‘Clearly above normal’
‘This is not typical summer heat,’ Del Campo told local media. ‘We are looking at temperatures that are clearly above normal for this time of year.’
By Sunday and Monday, forecasters say Spain could face the hottest days of the year so far. Sevilla and Cordoba are forecast to reach 43C, while coastal cities like Malaga, Cadiz, and Almeria will hover around 31–32C.
