Planning a holiday in Spain? It’s going to be extremely hot

Another heatwave has swept over the Iberian Peninsula. In the coming days, temperatures in many regions will exceed 40°C, and the highest level of fire risk has been declared in forests. A holiday in Spain might not be the best idea right now – the Spanish Ministry of Health warns of a high health risk.

Hot air over southern Europe

Over the weekend, a high-pressure system settled over the Iberian Peninsula, bringing temperatures 5–10°C above the long-term average. Spain’s meteorological agency Aemet predicts that the difficult situation will last at least until the end of the week. The highest, orange-level weather warning has been issued for many areas in central, western and southern parts of the country. According to Aemet, today temperatures will reach 42°C in selected towns in Andalusia and Extremadura, while in Galicia and Castilla-La Mancha thermometers will show around 40°C.

The Portuguese institute IPMA also forecasts high temperatures. In the districts of Braga, Bragança, Viana do Castelo and Vila Real, peak temperatures may reach 39–41°C, with no sign of refreshing rain. It will be only slightly cooler in France, where the national meteorological service Meteo France expects up to 38°C in the southwest and Rhône Valley.

A holiday in Spain might become a nightmare

Spanish media report that the heat is hitting residents of poorer districts the hardest. The newspaper El País writes today: While the capital boils at 42°C, southern Madrid slowly turns into a heated cauldron, among unshaded brick apartment blocks and treeless streets, where the temperature is three degrees higher than in the rest of the city. This refers to the San Cristóbal district, considered the fourth poorest in all of Spain.

It’s no surprise that so-called cooling zones are being opened in major cities, providing relief for residents without air conditioning. However, they don’t solve the problem of scorching nights and the health effects of prolonged heat.

Prof. Kim Meidenbauer of Washington State University claims that in addition to typical physiological ailments like dehydration or heat stroke, high temperatures negatively affect mental health, deepening existing disorders. In her view, the only way to neutralize the risk is to stay indoors until after sunset. But that’s not exactly an ideal holiday scenario in Spain.

Fires wreaking havoc, cases of arson reported

Wildfires may also ruin the dream of a perfect vacation. The highest fire risk level has been in force since yesterday in five northern regions of Portugal. Entering forests, lighting fires, and operating heavy machinery is strictly forbidden, said Maria Lúcia Amaral, Portugal’s Minister of Internal Administration.

These preventive restrictions follow difficult experiences from the past week. Over 1,800 firefighters spent several days battling blazes that broke out simultaneously in three locations: Ponte da Barca, Arouca and Penamacor. On Friday, two entire villages were evacuated, and at least 19 people were injured.

The fire risk is also high in Spain, where 570 hectares of forest burned down in Galicia on Saturday. Unfortunately, besides a fire sparked by a high-voltage line malfunction, authorities believe several deliberate arsons likely occurred. Spain’s Minister for Rural Affairs, Maria Jose Gomez, appealed to citizens for responsible behavior, stressing that arson incidents are increasing, with around 50 alerts per day, and that current weather conditions are not helping.

So although the Polish summer might be underwhelming, holidays in the Masurian Lakes or by the Baltic Sea could prove safer and more enjoyable than a trip to Spain or Portugal.