Spain Braces for Potentially Record-Breaking Heatwave
New weather maps from WXCharts indicate that Spain could be hit by blistering temperatures, with fears the mercury could reach a deadly 50C. The Iberian Peninsula is forecast to turn white hot on Friday, July 24, from noon onwards, with the southern province of Andalusia in the firing line for the highest temperatures.
Popular tourist cities such as Málaga, Seville, and Granada are likely to see 40C and above in a matter of days. The extreme heat follows devastating wildfires that tore through Spain's Almería province on Thursday, killing 13 people, including seven British nationals.
Wildfire Aftermath and Rising Temperatures
The deadly summer conditions look likely to continue, and Spanish climate experts fear the country could be cooked by record-breaking temperatures. The highest-ever reading for Spain is 47.6C, logged on August 14, 2021, in La Rambla, Barcelona. Rubén del Campo, from Spain's national weather body Agencia Estatal de Meteorología (AEMET), told the newspaper El País: “Given that the frequency and intensity of heatwaves are increasing, it is not out of the question that in the coming years or decades, during an intense heat peak, a temperature of 50 degrees could occur.”
The world record for the highest temperature ever logged is 56.7C, measured on July 10, 1913, in Death Valley, California. In Britain, the Met Office said 2026 is the first year to record 35C on six separate days, breaking previous records set in 1976 and 2020 when five days were recorded with temperatures over 35C.
Fatalities and Ongoing Search
In Spain, four days after a fire ravaged a remote expat community in the south of the country, judicial authorities have identified 12 of the 13 fatalities using biological samples. Most of the deceased, all of whom were adults, were foreign nationals, including seven British citizens, three Belgians, and a woman. Ten people remain unaccounted for.
The combination of ongoing wildfires and the forecast extreme heat raises concerns for public safety and emergency services. Authorities urge residents and tourists to take precautions as the heatwave approaches.
