44º C in some parts of Spain

This summer has many options to be one of the warmest since we have recordsif not the worst. The experts from the State Meteorological Agency (AEMET) have been warning about this for some time, while the mercury in the thermometers gave the first warnings. But the worst was and is yet to come, as we can see with the heat this week, in which the highest temperatures so far in 2026 are expected to be reached.

The third heat wave of the summer. This week the third is expected summer heat wave. As explained by the AEMET spokesperson, Rubén del Campo, throughout the first days of this week high temperatures will occur in areas of the east, center and south of the peninsula, with especially sultry early mornings. The minimum temperatures in the center, the peninsular Mediterranean area, the Balearic Islands and Guadalquivir will not drop below 23ºC-25ºC. It is even likely that cities like Barcelona will not drop below 26 or 27 ºC.

During the day temperatures will rise in the west of Andalusia and in the northern third and the heat will be very intense, almost universally exceeding 36ºC in the north of the peninsula and 38ºC in the south. In addition, 38 to 40ºC will be reached or exceeded in the eastern, central and southern areas and 40 to 42ºC occasionally in the southeast of Andalusia.

Starting Thursday. The latest predictions from the AEMETpublished this Monday, July 20, pointed out that the predictions as of Thursday still have some uncertainty. However, the intense heat will most likely continue this day in most of Spain, perhaps with some drops, but with an important exception in the Mediterranean area. There, especially in the interior of the regions bathed by the Mediterranean42-44ºC will be reached. In Murcia capital it could even exceed 45ºC. It would be the highest temperature so far this year.

Starting this weekend, temperatures may drop somewhat, although they will rise again next week.

In the Canary Islands. In the Canary Islands there will be cloudy intervals in the north, with clearer skies in the south. Temperatures may exceed 30-32ºC in the south of the mountainous islands and in the eastern islands, especially in the south of Gran Canaria, Lanzarote and Fuerteventura.

Lightning, haze and hail. These extreme temperatures can be accompanied by episodes of thunderstorms and hail. In addition, it is expected that there will be a lot of haze, which will make the air quality much worse.

Beware of fires. In his statements to the media, del Campo warns that this heat wave will place our country at extreme risk of fires, which is why take extreme precautions.

It doesn’t look good. 2025 was the third warmest year on record. However, we are talking about the entire year. If we focus only on the summer months, they were the hottest ever measured. A precedent was set that, according to AEMET predictions, will likely continue to increase.

In fact, everything points because this year it will be within the warm tertile. This is a measure that is used to order the temperatures in a specific place and time. All values ​​are sorted and divided into three equal groups, with 33% of data in each. Those are the tertiles. The first is the cold tertile, the second is normal, and the third is warm. 2026 has entered the warm season and may not come out of it. The 45ºC in Murcia this week and more than 40 in much of the Spanish map are just the beginning.

Images | AEMET

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