Along Spain’s Mediterranean coast, residents are preparing for another heatwave. The state weather agency AEMET has issued an orange heat warning for parts of the Costa Blanca. Temperatures are expected to locally reach up to around 40 degrees Celsius.
Spain Expat Press Editorial Team
by Marlon Gallego Bosbach
The orange warning level indicates a significant weather and health risk, particularly affecting vulnerable groups such as older adults, children, and people with chronic medical conditions.
Heatwave spreads across large parts of Spain
The current weather situation is not limited to the Costa Blanca region. Instead, it is a nationwide heatwave that is being felt across large parts of Spain. Both coastal areas and inland regions are particularly affected, with temperatures in some areas expected to be even higher.
Meteorological models suggest that peak temperatures in many regions will range between 38 and 40 degrees Celsius. In some areas, even higher values are possible locally, particularly in sheltered or especially dry regions.
Strain on health and infrastructure
Authorities are warning of the typical risks associated with extreme heatwaves. These include, among others, circulatory problems, dehydration, and an increased risk of heatstroke. Public life may also be affected by the high temperatures, for example through increased use of air conditioning and additional strain on the power grid.
In addition, the risk of wildfires and vegetation fires increases significantly during prolonged dry conditions. Even small additional factors such as wind can further worsen the situation during such periods.
Weather service urges caution
Spain’s weather services recommend avoiding direct sun exposure during the hottest hours of the day, drinking plenty of fluids, and reducing physical activity outdoors as much as possible. Vulnerable individuals are advised to spend more time in cool environments.
The orange warning level indicates that the situation is not only uncomfortable but potentially dangerous if appropriate precautions are not taken.
Trend towards more intense summers
Meteorologists have been observing an increase in intense heatwaves in Spain over recent years. These events are occurring more frequently, sometimes starting earlier in the year, and lasting longer than in previous decades.
Among the causes are climatic changes as well as large-scale weather patterns that transport hot air masses from North Africa into the Mediterranean region.
