Like much of western Europe, Spain has been suffering from an intense heatwave over the past days, with temperatures climbing over 40C. When can we expect a drop in temperatures?
We all know that it’s hot in Spain right now. Most of the country is experiencing an ola de calor or heatwave, with 85 of municipalities in the country on some form of heat alert.
It’s the first official heatwave of the summer, but already people are wondering when the stifling temperatures will decrease just a bit, to get some respite before summer properly begins.
So, when is this current heatwave due to finish?
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According to meteorologists from ElTiempo.es, these scorching days aren’t due to end just yet. The heatwave will continue without changes until at least Wednesday, with forecasts of temperatures ranging between 35C and over 40C in many areas across the country.
On Monday, Jaen in Andalusia recorded 45.1C, the highest temperature in Spain on that day.
🌡️El lunes 22 nada menos que 101 estaciones de la red de Aemet (compuesta por 828 estaciones) alcanzaron o superaron los 40 °C.
➡️ En Andújar (Jaén) se superaron los 45 °C. Más de 42 °C también en el nordeste peninsular, como en Lleida o en el valle del Ebro.
1/2 pic.twitter.com/g5CDZX5FJw
— AEMET (@AEMET_Esp) June 23, 2026
The mercury is expected to reach over 40C in Córdoba, Seville and Badajoz, Zaragoza, Logroño, Madrid and Bilbao.
High minimum temperatures and tropical nights with lows above 20C, are also forecast over the next few days in places like Barcelona and Palma de Mallorca.
The Canary Islands are the only region in Spain escaping this first summer heatwave.
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Spain’s State Meteorological Agency (Aemet) issued red alerts for heat on Monday in the interior of the Basque Country, where temperatures reached to 43C.
Orange alerts are in place for much of Navarre, Aragón and inland Catalonia, as well as Madrid, most of Castilla-La Mancha, parts of Extremadura and inland Andalusia such as Jaén and Córdoba.
Most of the rest of the country has been issued with yellow heat warnings.
From this Tuesday, red alerts extend to the Córdoba and parts of inland Andalusia with predictions of temperatures up to 44C.
On Wednesday, red heat warnings will remain in the Basque Country.
We will finally get somewhat of a break from these sizzling temperatures on Thursday June 25th, when Spain’s current heatwave is expected to technically end.
It will still be hot, but slightly less suffocating from Thursday onwards.
As Aemet puts it, although the maximum temperatures will remain high, “it is expected that the criteria for a heatwave will no longer be met.”
In Bilbao, where the mercury will easily exceed 40C in the first few days of this week, meteorologists have predicted a 10C drop by Thursday.
The temperature will also fall in most other areas in Spain towards the end of the week, although in many places the values will still be above average for this time of year.
By this weekend, the weather should be closer to what we expect for the end of June.
Scientists have shown that recurring heatwaves are a clear marker of global warming, primarily caused by burning coal, oil and gas — and warn they are set to become more frequent, longer and more intense.
