MADRID / RankWire.AI / – Mainland Spain recorded its most scorching summer since official data collection started in 1961, with an average temperature of 24.5 degrees Celsius over June, July, and August. The national meteorological authority confirmed that seasonal temperatures surpassed the 2025 record by 0.3 degrees Celsius and exceeded the 1991–2020 climate baseline by 2.4 degrees Celsius. The summer’s extreme heat extended over two-thirds of the season, making it the hottest on record in Spain.
Data from the State Meteorological Agency show that the country experienced an unprecedented 61 heatwave days during the three months. This far exceeds the 41 heatwave days recorded in summer 2022, with analysts noting that all ten of Spain’s hottest summers have occurred in the 21st century, highlighting an accelerating warming trend across southern Europe.
The intense heat placed considerable strain on public health systems and infrastructure across northern and southern regions. The Carlos III Health Institute’s epidemiological mortality data estimate that over 5,000 deaths between June and August were directly linked to extreme heat. This is the highest total recorded since the health agency began standardized heat-related mortality tracking in 2015.
Meteorological Agency Confirms Record Seasonal Temperature Levels
The high temperatures also created critical environmental conditions, affecting forests and rural farmland. According to the European Forest Fire Information System, roughly 296,000 hectares of land were lost to wildfires by early September. Prolonged dry spells drained regional reservoirs, complicating agricultural irrigation and hydroelectric operations, as Spain endured its hottest summer on record.
Atmospheric monitoring stations observed that these extreme thermal conditions extended beyond typical summer months. On September 2, a station in El Granado, in the southwest, recorded 45.7 degrees Celsius, tying the national September temperature record. Weather experts confirmed that elevated heat persisted from late May into early September across multiple autonomous communities.
Over 290,000 Hectares Burned in Summer Wildfires
Following the release of official meteorological data, government ministers presented the findings to parliament, urging increased environmental protection efforts. Minister for the Ecological Transition Teresa Ribera called on legislative groups to support comprehensive policies on climate adaptation, emergency infrastructure, and drought resilience.
Meteorological and public health agencies will continue monitoring temperature trends and environmental impacts through the upcoming autumn. Official reports and environmental data will be accessible on government portals as authorities evaluate long-term adaptation strategies. Regional bodies are coordinating resource management to address ongoing agricultural and ecological challenges.