Govind Tekale
Spain just lived through its hottest summer since records began in 1961, with temperatures soaring to dangerous levels across the country. The national weather agency AEMET reports the average summer temperature reached 24.2°C (75.6°F), breaking the previous record set in 2022 by 0.1°C.
“These summers of 2022 and 2025 are a trailer – or spoiler – for what could happen in the middle of the century,” warned AEMET spokesperson Rubén del Campo at a news conference. The record temperature was 2.1°C above the 1991-2020 average, showing how rapidly Spain is warming.
This summer wasn’t just hot – it was consistently scorching. Spain endured three separate heatwaves spanning 36 days total, meaning Spaniards faced extreme heat for one out of every three summer days. The August heatwave lasted 16 days and was the most intense ever recorded in Spain, with temperatures exceeding 45°C (113°F) in southern regions. Jerez de la Frontera recorded a blistering 45.8°C on August 17.
The heat helped fuel Spain’s worst wildfire season in three decades. About 382,000 hectares (943,000 acres) burned across the country, with the northwest region of Galicia suffering some of the worst blazes. There, temperatures were 3°C warmer than normal, creating perfect conditions for fires when combined with very low rainfall.
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The human toll was severe. Four people died in the wildfires, while the Carlos III Health Institute estimates the heat caused more than 1,100 deaths, mostly among people over 65.
Nine of Spain’s 10 hottest summers on record have occurred in the 21st century, showing a clear warming trend. Since 1975, Spain has experienced 77 heatwaves, but the recent ones stand out for their intensity. Six heatwaves have been 4°C or more above average, and five of those have occurred since 2019.
The extreme heat isn’t limited to Spain. This summer was also the hottest on record in Britain since measurements began in 1884. The Mediterranean region is heating 20% faster than the global average, according to the United Nations, while Europe as a whole is warming at twice the global rate.
Looking ahead, AEMET predicts an unusually warm autumn, especially in northern and eastern Spain and the Balearic Islands. Western Spain and the Canary Islands are expected to be drier than usual, extending concerns about drought and fire risk.
Climate scientists point to human-caused climate change as the driver behind these increasingly intense heat events. Spain has already warmed by more than 1.5°C compared to pre-industrial levels, making it one of Europe’s most climate-vulnerable countries.
“What is key is adapting to, and mitigating, climate change,” AEMET stated, highlighting the need for both immediate responses and long-term strategies to address this growing threat to public health, safety, and the environment.
