Spain braces for third heatwave with temperatures potentially exceeding 45 degrees Celsius

Spain is preparing for its third heatwave of the summer, with meteorologists forecasting temperatures to surpass 40 degrees Celsius across large parts of the country starting Tuesday. The heat is expected to peak around Thursday, with some regions potentially experiencing temperatures exceeding 45 degrees Celsius.

The Spanish weather service, Aemet, warned that the danger level will be significant during the hottest hours of the day, particularly for outdoor activities and vulnerable populations. Spain has already endured two heatwaves this summer, one in late June that set records across Europe, and another in early July.

Scientists attribute the increasing length, intensity, and frequency of heatwaves to human-caused climate change, which dries out vegetation and heightens the risk of wildfires. The first half of this summer in Spain has been the warmest since records began in 1961, with the average temperature from June 1 to July 15 reaching 24.5 degrees Celsius, 3.3 degrees above the 1991-2020 average.

The upcoming heatwave is caused by a persistent high-pressure system that will trap warm, dry air from North Africa over Spain for several days, pushing temperatures to unusually high levels, according to Aemet.