MADRID – The heatwave that gripped Spain in August has been declared the most severe in the country’s recent history, according to a provisional report from Spain’s State Meteorological Agency (AEMET). The intense heat and its devastating effects, including record-breaking temperatures and catastrophic wildfires, have been cited as a clear sign of a global trend toward more extreme weather.
AEMET’s data shows that average temperatures from August 3–18 were 4.6 degrees Celsius higher than the seasonal normal, narrowly surpassing the previous record of 4.5 degrees Celsius set in July 2022. This period was also part of the hottest first 20 days of August since 1961, with the 10-day stretch from August 8–17 being the hottest on record since 1950. The agency noted that August 11, 16, and 17 ranked among the top ten warmest days ever recorded in Spain since 1941.
Since 1975, Spain has endured 77 heatwaves, with a worrying trend showing five of these occurring since 2019. This suggests the country is experiencing longer, more extreme heat events. The human toll has been particularly severe, with the government’s Daily Mortality Monitoring System reporting that 1,149 people have died as a direct result of this year’s heatwaves.
The intense heat also contributed to Spain’s worst month for wildfires on record. Approximately 406,100 hectares of land—an area roughly 5.5 times the size of Singapore—have been destroyed, according to data from the European Forest Fire Information System. The infernos claimed four lives and forced nearly 30,000 people to flee their homes. While the majority of evacuees have been able to return, many fires continue to burn.
In a related development, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) issued a joint call on August 22 for global action to address the escalating health risks that extreme heat poses to workers worldwide. A comprehensive report from the agencies highlighted that 2024 was the warmest year on record, with daytime temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius in many places.
Jeremy Farrar, WHO Deputy Director-General, stated, “Billions of workers’ health and livelihoods are already being negatively impacted by heat stress, particularly in the most vulnerable communities.” The report warned that health risks like heatstroke, dehydration, and kidney dysfunction are threatening the long-term health and financial security of workers globally.
Ko Barrett, WMO Deputy Secretary-General, emphasized that occupational heat stress is now a global issue, not just one limited to countries near the equator. “Protection of workers from extreme heat is not just a health imperative but an economic necessity,” Barrett said.
According to climatologist and physical geography professor Javier Martin-Vide of the University of Barcelona, the wildfires devastating Spain should serve as a wake-up call for the rest of Europe. He warned that intense heat conditions will continue to increase in latitude, reaching countries that have historically enjoyed temperate summers. The advice from the WHO and WMO, which includes creating national policies and fostering collaboration between governments, businesses, and health professionals, outlines a critical multi-stakeholder approach to mitigate these growing risks.
