Meteorologists have warned that Malaga could be facing one of its hottest summers in more than six decades.

According to state weather agency Aemete, temperatures across the province are expected to remain above average throughout June, July and August.

Forecasters predict that summer 2026 will rank among the warmest since records began in 1961.

Jesus Riesco, director of Malaga’s Meteorological Centre, said all forecasting models point towards an exceptionally hot season across southern Spain.

‘We’re going to have a very warm summer throughout Spain, especially in the south,’ he said.

For Malaga, the outlook places this summer firmly among the hottest third of all summers recorded over the last 65 years. Riesco believes it could end up being one of the hottest ever measured in the province.

Recent years dominate the heat records

The warning comes after a string of record-breaking summers.

According to Aemet data, the hottest summers ever recorded in Malaga were 2025 and 2023, both registering average temperatures of 26.4C between June and August – around two degrees above the seasonal norm.

Third place belongs to 2022, with an average of 26C, followed by 2012 at 25.7C.

‘They’re all from this century,’ Riesco noted, pointing to the figures as further evidence of the region’s warming climate.

Terral winds and heatwaves expected

Residents can also expect several episodes of terral this summer – the hot, dry wind that regularly sends temperatures soaring along the Costa del Sol.

The province has already experienced two terral events during the first half of June, including one that pushed temperatures to 38.4C and produced Malaga’s first torrid night of the year, with overnight temperatures remaining around 30C.

Another, milder terral arrived this week, bringing temperatures of 36.4C at Malaga Airport, 36C in Torremolinos and 35.2C in Coín.

Riesco also warned that Andalucía is likely to experience several heatwaves over the coming months.

The first could arrive sooner rather than later.

‘It’s possible that towards the end of this week, around Sunday and continuing into next week, we’ll see a period of very high temperatures across Andalucía and possibly much of Spain,’ he said.

Forecasters are still assessing whether the event will meet the official criteria required to be classified as a heatwave.

Levante may offer some relief

One factor working in favour of coastal residents is the expected dominance of Levante winds, which typically help moderate temperatures along the Mediterranean coast.

However, Riesco noted that recent years have seen an increase in Poniente winds, which are associated with hotter and more aggressive terral episodes.

Little rain in sight

As for rainfall, the forecast offers little encouragement.

Aemet expects another typically dry Andalucian summer, with only the possibility of isolated inland thunderstorms occasionally drifting towards the coast.

Any rainfall is expected to be brief and insignificant.

Spring was already among the hottest on record

The summer forecast follows what Aemet has described as a ‘very warm’ spring in Malaga province.

With an average temperature of 16C, spring 2026 was the fifth warmest since records began in 1961 and 1.1C above the long-term average.

Only the springs of 2023, 2015, 1961 and 2006 were warmer. Rainfall figures paint an equally concerning picture.

Between March and May, Malaga received just 90.5 litres of rain per square metre – around 53% of the seasonal average.

According to Aemet, that makes spring 2026 the tenth driest recorded in the province over the last 65 years.

‘Practically half the normal rainfall fell,’ Riesco said. ‘It can clearly be considered a very dry spring.’

Read more Andalucia news at the Spanish Eye.