The State Meteorological Agency confirms that last summer has been the warmest observed in Spain since records began. The average temperature in mainland Spain reached 24,2 ºC and was 2,1 ºC above the 1991-2020 period, exceeding by one tenth the previous limit set in 2022.
The climate balance, which considers the period of the June 1 to August 31, also reflects territorial differences: The Balearic Islands reached an average of 25,8ºC (+1,5) y The Canary Islands reached 22,7 ºC (+0,9)AEMET's reference series dates back to 1961, which provides context for the scope of this record.
What AEMET confirms and how it has been measured
The agency classifies summer as "extremely warm" on the Peninsula. The calculation is made by comparing the observed temperatures with the reference period 1991-2020, a climatological standard used internationally. The more pronounced anomalies, greater than 3 ºC, were concentrated inland, with special incidence in Galicia and the two plateaus.
For months, June was exceptional: It became the warmest in its series and the month with the greatest positive deviation in Spain since 1961, with + 3,6 ºC. August was also extremely warm., while July offered a relative respite in its second half, without preventing the quarter from closing at a record high.
Heat waves and summer highs
In the Peninsula and the Balearic Islands they were recorded two large heat waves that added up 33 days under this phenomenon (the second highest value after 2022). The first extended between the 18 for June and the 4 for July: lasted 17 days, affected 40 provinces y It is among the longest and most extensive since modern records exist.
The second wave occurred from 3 to August 18 and was especially severe: a thermal anomaly of 4,2 ºC, 42 provinces affected and 16 days long, which places it between the most intense episodes documentedDuring those days, the peninsula recorded very high maximum temperatures with values ​​that once again reached the 46 ° C.
Among the absolute extremes of summer are: 45,8 ºC in Jerez de la Frontera y 45,2 ºC in Morón de la Frontera (August 17). Notable peaks were also reached in the southeast, such as 45,1 ºC in Murcia y 45,0 ºC in Alcantarilla. The increase in the tropical nights (minimums above 20 ºC) were very marked in urban and coastal areas.
Rain: a drier summer with occasional storms
The quarter was characterized by a rainfall deficit in the Peninsula: the average was 57 mm’s most emblematic landmarks, the 81% of normal for the season, making it one of the driest summers since 1961. The dryness was most pronounced in Galicia, Asturias and northern Castile and León, areas that also suffered high temperatures.
In contrast, the northeast peninsula (Catalonia, Aragon and Navarre) recorded a character humid or very humid awarded by the succession of storms. Notable episodes include: 59,6 mm in Girona (July 6) and 57,6 mm in Castellón/Almassora (July 12), values ​​that marked highs in their local series.
The behavior in the archipelagos was uneven: Canary Islands presented a globally summer damp (with rains concentrated in specific areas), while in Balearics the west was dry or very dry and the east showed more areas damp. The high temperatures and lack of rain In large areas they created a scenario conducive to large fires.
Warming context and trends
The AEMET spokesperson stressed the unequivocal upward trend of summer temperatures in Spain. Nine of the ten warmest summers belong to the 21st century, with 2022 as the second, 2023 as fourth y 2024 as seventh of the series. According to the agency, the temperatures observed in 2022 and 2025 are comparable to those projected by climate models for midcentury, which reinforces the evidence of accelerated warming.
Institutional reactions and political debate
Given these data, the Ministry for Ecological Transition stressed that the climate emergency is a reality and advocated moving towards a State pact in climate matters. The proposal, promoted by the Government in the middle of the fire season, has raised division between parties and will finally be addressed by the ordinary committee on Ecological Transition of Congress, after ruling out the creation of a specific subcommittee.
Part of the opposition has shown skepticism before the pact, and has announced that it will not participate in certain meetings. In parallel, international media They have echoed the Spanish record and the increased frequency and intensity of heat waves in the Mediterranean, framing Spain's case within a broader regional trend.
What to expect from autumn
Looking ahead to the coming months, AEMET forecasts a warmer than normal autumn throughout the country, with a 60-70% probability in the Peninsula and the Balearic Islands and around the 50% in the Canary Islands. As for rainfall, models indicate that a rainy autumn is not likely, especially in the west and center of the peninsula and in the Canary Islands, although the uncertainty typical of this season.
The forecast does not exclude isolated episodes of intense storms capable of concentrating a lot of precipitation in just a few days, a pattern already observed this summer in the northeast. Weather monitoring will continue to be key to water management, public health and fire prevention.
The new balance places Spain in a scenario in which the longer, drier, and more extreme summers will become more frequent. The AEMET data—record temperatures, prolonged heat waves, and rainfall deficits across much of the country—fit in with the trend observed in recent decades and reinforce the need for adaptation and planning at all scales.
