A Day of Sweltering Heat Across the Country

Spain has just lived through one of the hottest Saturdays in years, with the heatwave pushing temperatures well above 40ºC in many regions. In Barcelona, the famous Observatori Fabra reached 38.9ºC, the highest temperature recorded in its 112-year history. Further south, Sevilla and Córdoba baked under 44ºC, while Zaragoza and Tarragona also crossed the 42ºC mark.

The heat hasn’t eased since the sun went down. Nighttime temperatures stayed stubbornly high, with many places not dropping below 25ºC, leaving little chance for people to recover from the extreme conditions.

Red Alerts Still Active

The State Meteorological Agency (Aemet) kept red alerts in place for Sevilla, Valencia, and Tarragona, while many other provinces remained under orange and yellow warnings. Officials have stressed that this weekend marks the peak of the heatwave, which has gripped the country since August 3.

Tomorrow Could Be Worse

If today felt unbearable, Sunday, August 17, is expected to be even more intense. Forecasts suggest temperatures could hit 45ºC in parts of Andalucía, Valencia, and Murcia, especially in the Guadalquivir and Segura valleys. Civil Protection has gone as far as to call Sunday ‘the worst day‘ of the heatwave, pointing to not just the high temperatures but also stronger winds that will increase the danger of wildfires.

⚠️🌡️ Calor muy intenso en la mayor parte de España el domingo 17.

→ Solo Galicia y Asturias quedan libres de avisos por temperaturas máximas. En Cantabria y Canarias hay avisos amarillos. En el resto, avisos naranjas y/o rojos.

→ Detallamos los avisos rojos en este hilo 🧵 pic.twitter.com/b2auLWq6ub

— AEMET (@AEMET_Esp) August 16, 2025

Fire Risk at Extreme Levels

The combination of heat and wind has pushed the risk of wildfires to critical levels across much of Spain. Authorities have closed several natural parks and restricted access to rural areas as a precaution. Civil Protection is urging the public to be extra careful: avoid barbecues, fireworks, or anything that could spark flames, and call emergency services right away if smoke or fire is spotted. Strong winds mean even a small flame could spread rapidly.

Some Relief Next Week

The good news is that this punishing heatwave does have an end in sight. From Monday, August 18, a cooler Atlantic air mass is expected to move in, starting in the west and bringing temperatures down little by little. By Tuesday, most areas should see more typical summer weather again.

For now, Spain faces another long, hot night, followed by what could be the toughest day of this heatwave on Sunday.

Main image: X/@AEMET_Esp