Spain records hottest summer in history with 61 days of extreme heat

September 10, 2026 at 08:10 AM1 min

This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.

Spain recorded its hottest summer on record in 2026, with 61 days of extreme heat and an average temperature of 24.5°C, the state meteorological agency AEMET reported. Heat-related deaths reached 5,232 by August 31, the highest since monitoring began in 2015. The heat extended beyond the official summer season, with a heatwave from September 2 to 7.

Key Facts

Spain experienced 61 days of extreme heat during summer 2026, surpassing the previous record of 41 days set in 2022.
The average summer temperature was 24.5°C, 0.3°C higher than the previous record summer of 2025.
Heat-related deaths reached 5,232 by August 31, the highest since Spain's daily mortality monitoring system began in 2015.
A heatwave occurred from September 2 to 7, extending extreme heat into meteorological autumn.
Deputy Prime Minister Sara Aagesen called for a national consensus to address the climate emergency.

Record-Breaking Heat

Spain's state meteorological agency AEMET reported that summer 2026 was the hottest since records began. The Iberian Peninsula and Balearic Islands saw 61 days of extreme heat, far exceeding the 41 days recorded in summer 2022. The average temperature reached 24.5°C, 0.3°C above the previous record set in 2025. Extreme temperatures were recorded on roughly two out of every three summer days.

Health Impact

By August 31, Spain's daily mortality monitoring system recorded 5,232 heat-related deaths, the highest since 2015. The elderly were particularly affected by the prolonged heat.

Official Response

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Ecological Transition Sara Aagesen announced the record at a press conference. Aagesen called for a national consensus to address the climate emergency, stating that Spain must increase resilience to climate change. She emphasized that there is no time for climate denial or political delay.