New Heatwave Sweeps Across Spain, Alerts Issued for 13 Autonomous Communities
In its latest report on August 7, Spain’s State Meteorological Agency (AEMET) indicated that a new heatwave is affecting most of the country. The report shows that 13 autonomous communities have activated various levels of weather alerts due to the heat. Notably, the provinces of Córdoba and Jaén in Andalusia are under an orange alert for high temperatures, with local highs expected to climb to 41°C.
In addition to Andalusia, the regions of Aragón, the Balearic Islands, Castile and León, Castilla-La Mancha, Catalonia, Extremadura, the Community of Madrid, Navarre, La Rioja, the Valencian Community, and the Canary Islands are also under high-temperature warnings. While most of the country will experience sunny and hot conditions, the northern coasts of Galicia and Cantabria will see increased cloud cover in the morning, with a possibility of morning fog in some areas.
Abrupt Afternoon Weather Change: East and Southeast Face Strong Convection Risk
In stark contrast to the widespread daytime heat, the weather will become highly unstable in the afternoon. The forecast indicates that the sustained high temperatures will lead to an accumulation of energy, forming strong convective weather systems in the eastern and southeastern parts of Spain. Consequently, thunderstorm warnings have been issued for multiple areas, including Teruel and Zaragoza in Aragón, as well as Albacete, Castellón, Valencia, Granada, Soria, and northwest Murcia.
The meteorological agency warns that these areas may experience intense weather phenomena such as short bursts of heavy rain, hail, and destructive high winds due to the strong convection. The weather changes are expected to be rapid, with impacts possibly extending to the Pyrenees Mountains.
Reduced Day-Night Temperature Difference, Persistently Warm Nights
During this weather event, not only will the days be scorching, but nighttime comfort will also decrease significantly. Daytime maximum temperatures will widely exceed 35°C across large inland areas of southern and northeastern Spain. The Guadalquivir Valley remains one of the hottest regions in the country, with temperatures approaching 41°C.
After nightfall, the heat will not significantly subside. The southeastern regions, the Balearic Islands, and parts of the Mediterranean coast will widely experience ‘tropical nights’ (noches tropicales), where minimum temperatures do not fall below 20°C. Furthermore, in some coastal areas and the Canary Islands, minimum temperatures could remain above 25°C, leading to ‘scorching nights’ (noches tórridas) and making it feel persistently muggy and uncomfortable throughout the night.
