Spain has confirmed that this past summer was the hottest on record for the southern European nation, underscoring the severe impact of climate change across the Mediterranean region.
According to Spain's national weather service, the country registered an average temperature of 24.2°C (75.5°F) between June 1 and August 31. This figure is the highest since record-keeping began in 1961, narrowly exceeding the previous record of 24.1°C set in the summer of 2022. The summer was also notably warmer, registering 2.1 degrees Celsius (3.7°F) hotter than the national average recorded between 1991 and 2020.
Heatwaves and Unprecedented Wildfires
The scorching temperatures peaked on August 17, when the highest single-day temperature was recorded at 45.8°C (119.3°F) in Jerez de la Frontera, located in southern Spain, during a fierce heat wave.
The relentless heat and corresponding drought had devastating effects on the Spanish countryside, fueling a record-breaking fire season. According to data compiled by the European Union's European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS), an unprecedented 382,000 hectares (944,000 acres) were burned in wildfires. This surpasses the previous high of 306,000 hectares burned in 2022. The weather service noted that the summer was particularly dry, especially in the northwest areas where the wildfire damage was most severe.
The Mediterranean—A Climate Change Hotspot
Spain's extreme summer is a grim indicator of a broader regional crisis. Data from the United Nations shows that the Mediterranean region is currently heating up 20% faster than the global average. The dramatic weather shift poses long-term challenges to the economy, agriculture, and public health of all nations bordering the sea.
As Spain continues to grapple with these environmental extremes, the record-breaking summer highlights the urgent need for robust climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies across the European Union.