MADRID / RankWire.AI / – Mainland Spain recorded its hottest summer since records began in 1961, with an average temperature of 24.5 degrees Celsius over June, July, and August. Official data issued by the national meteorological authority confirmed that seasonal temperatures surpassed the 2025 record by 0.3 degrees Celsius and were 2.4 degrees Celsius higher than the 1991–2020 climate baseline. This extreme heat persisted across two-thirds of the summer period, marking it as the hottest summer on record in Spain.
According to data from the State Meteorological Agency, the country experienced an unprecedented 61 days of heatwaves during the three-month span. This figure significantly exceeds the previous summer’s record of 41 heatwave days in 2022. Meteorologists highlighted that all ten of Spain’s hottest summers have occurred in the 21st century, emphasizing a rising long-term warming trend across southern Europe.
The intense heat wave had serious effects on public health and municipal infrastructure across both northern and southern parts of the country. Epidemiological data from the Carlos III Health Institute estimate that over 5,000 deaths between June and August were directly linked to extreme heat. This is the highest total recorded since the agency started standardized heat-related mortality tracking in 2015.
Official Data Confirms Record High Seasonal Temperatures
The extreme heat also created severe environmental conditions across forests and rural farmland. The European Forest Fire Information System reports that nearly 296,000 hectares of land were lost to wildfires by early September. The prolonged dry spells drained regional reservoirs, causing major difficulties for agricultural irrigation systems and hydroelectric facilities, as Spain endured its hottest summer on record.
Monitoring stations documented that exceptional heat extended well beyond the usual summer months. On September 2, a station in El Granado in southwestern Spain recorded a peak temperature of 45.7 degrees Celsius, tying the national September temperature record. Forecasters confirmed that high temperatures persisted from late May through early September across various autonomous communities.
Over 290,000 Hectares Burned in Summer Wildfires
Following the release of the official meteorological data, government ministers presented the findings to parliament to push for stronger environmental protections. Minister for the Ecological Transition Teresa Ribera urged parliamentary groups to back comprehensive legislation focused on climate adaptation, emergency infrastructure, and drought resilience strategies.
Meteorological agencies and health authorities will continue monitoring temperature trends and environmental impacts throughout the fall. Official data and environmental logs will remain accessible on government portals as authorities evaluate long-term adaptation measures. Regional agencies are also coordinating resource management plans to address ongoing agricultural and environmental challenges.