Spain swelters in first official heatwave of 2026

A severe heatwave hit Madrid, with temperatures reaching 40 degrees Celsius, prompting authorities to issue orange and red alerts across 14 Spanish regions and warn of sun exposure and wildfire risks.

Tourists and locals ​in Madrid struggled to cope ​with temperatures reaching up ‌to 40 ​degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) on Sunday as the first official heatwave of 2026 set ‌in, and authorities warned of over-exposure to the sun and an increased risk of wildfires. Haily San Cesario, a 22-year-old engineer visiting Madrid's El ‌Rastro flea market from Miami said: "I'm dressed all in ‌white because it's so hot, and I'm carrying my little electric fan everywhere I go."

Aemet, the state-run weather forecaster, said 13 of Spain's 17 regions are ⁠on orange ​alert for ⁠heat on Sunday, while the Basque Country, in the northwest, is on red ⁠alert, the highest level. The heatwave will continue until Thursday. "The heat really ​is exhausting," said Madrid resident Ana Garces, a 49-year-old social ⁠educator also visiting the market. The head of SNCF, the French state-owned railway ⁠operator ​on Sunday, advised vulnerable people against taking the train during the heatwave, which on Saturday prompted a partial alcohol ban in ⁠France, nationwide warnings in Germany and the closure of a soccer fan ⁠zone ⁠in Spain.

The severe heat brought renewed concerns of its impact on people's health, particularly the elderly.