Central Spain is facing temperatures above 41°C on Tuesday, July 21, as a third summer heat wave arrives [1].
This weather event is critical because the extreme heat increases the risk of forest fires and threatens public health across the Iberian Peninsula. The arrival of large masses of warm air has created a heat-intensifying episode that stresses infrastructure and emergency services [1, 3].
The Agencia Estatal de Meteorología (AEMET) has placed 15 provinces on alert [1]. Forecasts indicate that Granada and Córdoba will reach maximum temperatures of 41°C [1]. Other regions, including Teruel, Lleida, and Zaragoza, are expected to hit 40°C [1]. Some reports suggest temperatures in several zones could exceed 42°C [2].
The heat is not limited to daytime peaks. Nighttime temperatures in Madrid and Mediterranean coastal zones are expected to remain above 22°C [1]. This lack of nocturnal cooling often exacerbates the impact of heat waves on urban populations.
Earlier this summer, meteorologists warned of the onset of high temperatures. On June 17, Rubén del Campo said it was probable that a new heat wave would arrive [3]. Later, on June 19, José Antonio Maldonado said the first heat wave of the summer would see temperatures exceed 35°C [3].
By July 3, an AEMET spokesperson said that a new heat wave was arriving in Spain [2]. This current episode represents a continuation of a volatile summer pattern characterized by shifting air masses and intensifying heat peaks [3].
Local authorities are monitoring the dry conditions in the affected provinces. The combination of extreme heat and low humidity has elevated the danger of wildfires in the central peninsular regions [1].
“Temperatures exceed 41°C in central provinces, raising forest fire risks.”
The recurrence of multiple heat waves within a single season indicates a pattern of intensifying summer extremes in the Mediterranean basin. When nighttime temperatures remain high—specifically above 22°C—the human body and environment cannot recover from daytime heat, which significantly increases the likelihood of heat-related illnesses and accelerates the drying of vegetation, fueling more aggressive forest fires.
