Spain’s June heatwave has broken records not only by day but also by night. On the night of 21 June, the temperature in Almería never dropped below 30.8°C — 3.7 degrees above the previous record for a June night there.
It was the first time since records began in 1950 that a minimum temperature of 30°C or more has been recorded on the Iberian Peninsula in June.
Three tropical nights in a row
Almería stayed above 30°C for three consecutive nights, with lows of 30.3°C in the city and 31.5°C at Cabo de Gata.
In the Balearics, Palma port recorded an overnight low of 25.7°C, beating its previous June record by a tenth of a degree.
Extreme daytime heat
On 22 June, more than 100 weather stations around Spain recorded 40°C or more. Jaén reached 45°C and Lleida passed 42°C.
Red warnings
The state meteorological agency, Aemet, issued red warnings — the highest level, indicating danger to life — for heat in parts of Andalusia, including Córdoba and Jaén, and, unusually, in the northern provinces of Gipuzkoa, Bizkaia and Cantabria.
Several towns cancelled traditional Sant Joan beach bonfires because of the fire risk.
Why hot nights matter
Night-time temperatures are particularly important for health. When the air does not cool down after dark, the body cannot recover from the heat of the day, which raises the risk for older people, young children and those with chronic illnesses.
Keeping safe
- Drink water regularly, even if you are not thirsty.
- Avoid strenuous activity in the hottest hours, from around midday to 6pm.
- Keep blinds and windows closed during the day and open them at night if it is cooler outside.
- Check on elderly neighbours and relatives.
- Never leave children or pets in parked cars.
In an emergency, call 112.
