Spain is facing a marked rise in temperatures at the start of the month. According to the state weather agency Aemet a heat dome will spread over much of the Iberian Peninsula in midweek. Thursday, 3 September 2026, is expected to be the hottest day, with temperatures locally reaching 43 degrees in the south. The Guadalquivir Basinwill be particularly affected; in Seville and Córdoba very high daytime temperatures are expected. Temperatures will again rise above 30 degrees across large parts of the country, reaching close to or above 40 degrees in many inland areas. Forecasts are five to ten degrees above the usual values for early September in many places.
Meteorologists attribute the expected peak to a high-pressure system with descending air at altitude. It will keep very warm air over the peninsula for several days, limit overnight cooling and favour strong sunshine. After a marked rise from midweek, the heat is expected to peak on Thursday and gradually ease from the west over the weekend. How strongly and how quickly temperatures cool will depend on the precise position and persistence of the pressure systems; Aemet updates its detailed forecasts daily.
Whether the event is classified as a “heatwave” depends on local thresholds and the duration of elevated temperatures, and is determined by the authorities region by region. It is already clear that the strain is likely to be considerable in the hottest areas. The Junta de Andalucía refers to existing heat-protection protocols for the summer. It advises protecting particularly vulnerable groups, such as older people, young children and those with pre-existing conditions, drinking plenty of fluids, avoiding direct sunlight and moving physical exertion to cooler times of day.
Aemet also recommends keeping a close eye on official alert levels and regional advice. Short-term adjustments are possible, for example if the hottest air mass shifts slightly or local effects such as valley and land breezes further raise or moderate temperatures. As things stand, there is a high likelihood that some weather stations will record new daily highs for this time of year on 3 September. At the same time, models suggest that the most intense heat will be pushed east and north-east from the weekend, with temperatures gradually falling in the west.
Editor: Andreas M. Brucker (Article created with AI assistance).