Spain sees hottest summer on record in 2025

OVIEDO, Spain

The summer of 2025 was Spain’s hottest since records began in 1961, the state meteorological agency said Tuesday.

According to the Spanish State Meteorological Agency (AEMET), the average temperature for the meteorological summer -- June, July, and August -- was 2.1°C (3.8°F) above normal levels.

The country experienced two major heat waves that lasted a combined total of 33 days. That means one in every three summer days saw extreme heat, AEMET said.

While the northeast experienced severe storms at times, the remainder of the season was unusually dry, particularly in northwestern Spain.

“This, together with the heat, aggravated the forest fires in August,” said the agency in a social media video.

By the end of August, more than 400,000 hectares (988,000 acres) had burned in Spain -- more than six times the average for the same period between 2006 and 2024.

AEMET said summers in Spain are getting hotter each year and warned of the consequences for ecosystems and public health.​​​​​​​

Excess mortality data suggest that 3,656 people died in Spain this summer due to extreme heat -- significantly more than the 2,010 deaths recorded in summer 2024.