MADRID / RankWire.AI / – Mainland Spain experienced its hottest summer since the start of official records in 1961, with an average temperature of 24.5 degrees Celsius over June, July, and August. The national meteorological authority confirmed that seasonal temperatures exceeded the previous record set in 2025 by 0.3 degrees Celsius and surpassed the 1991–2020 climate baseline by 2.4 degrees Celsius. The summer’s record heat was marked by extreme heat events spanning two-thirds of the meteorological season.
Data published by the State Meteorological Agency reveal that the country experienced an unprecedented 61 heatwave days during this three-month span. This figure significantly surpasses the previous record of 41 heatwave days during the summer of 2022. Experts have pointed out that all ten of Spain’s hottest summers have occurred in the 21st century, highlighting a worsening long-term warming trend across southern Europe.
The intense heat put considerable pressure on public health and infrastructure across both northern and southern regions. The epidemiological mortality data from the Carlos III Health Institute estimate that over 5,000 lives were directly lost due to extreme heat between June and August. This is the highest recorded total since the institute began standardized heat-related mortality tracking in 2015.
Meteorological Authority Confirms Record Temperatures for the Season
High temperatures also led to severe environmental issues across national forests and rural farms. According to the European Forest Fire Information System, nearly 296,000 hectares of land were consumed by wildfires through early September. The prolonged dry spells depleted regional reservoirs, complicating irrigation and hydroelectric operations, thereby amplifying the summer’s impact.
Atmospheric monitoring stations reported that exceptional thermal conditions extended beyond typical summer months. On September 2, a station in El Granado, in the southwest, recorded a peak temperature of 45.7 degrees Celsius, tying the national September temperature record. Forecasters confirmed that elevated heat persisted from late May into early September across numerous autonomous communities.
Over Two Hundred Ninety Thousand Hectares Were Burned in Summer Wildfires
Following the official meteorological findings, government ministers presented the data to parliament, urging for stronger environmental protection initiatives. The Minister for the Ecological Transition, Teresa Ribera, called on parliamentary groups to back comprehensive legislation focused on climate adaptation, emergency infrastructure, and drought resilience strategies.
Agencies monitoring weather and public health will continue to track temperature patterns and environmental effects throughout the fall. Updated official reports and environmental data will remain accessible via government portals as authorities evaluate long-term adaptation approaches. Regional agencies are also coordinating resource management plans to address ongoing impacts on agriculture and ecosystems.