Spain endured hottest summer on record

Mainland Spain experienced its hottest summer on record, according to the national weather agency AEMET. The country saw an unprecedented 61 heatwave days during June, July, and August, with an average temperature of 24.5°C. This figure represents a 0.3°C increase from the previous record set in 2025 and a 2.4°C rise above the 1991-2020 reference period.

Scientists attribute the surge in extreme heat to human-caused climate change, which has intensified and prolonged the heatwaves. In fact, the ten hottest summers on record in Spain have all occurred in the 21st century. On September 2, the town of El Granado recorded a staggering 45.7°C, matching the temperature record for the month and marking the highest temperature in Spain throughout the year.

The extreme heat has resulted in tens of thousands of excess deaths across Europe, disrupted daily life for millions in inadequately prepared regions, and adversely affected the economy due to drought and low river levels. In Spain, the Carlos III Health Institute estimated over 5,000 heat-related deaths between June and August, a record since statistics began in 2015.

The extreme temperatures created ideal conditions for wildfires, as seen in a recent blaze near Madrid that forced the evacuation of tens of thousands of residents. As of September 2, nearly 296,000 hectares (731,000 acres) had burned in Spain, according to the European Forest Fire Information System.