Madrid: Spain is set to experience its first heatwave of the summer starting Thursday, according to the meteorology service AEMET. Concurrently, the government launched a heat risk awareness campaign aimed primarily at outdoor workers.
Following a cooler-than-usual start to the season, AEMET predicts temperatures exceeding 38 degrees Celsius across most of the country on Thursday, with southern areas like the Guadalquivir Valley expecting highs of 42-44°C. Friday is anticipated to be the peak day of this heatwave, with temperatures soaring to around 40°C in many regions.
AEMET has issued heatwave alerts covering a significant portion of Spain, including the Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean.
The National Institute for Safety and Health at Work initiated the campaign “With sun it’s time for caution” on Wednesday, addressing risks such as heat stroke and solar radiation.
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Under a government decree implemented last year to combat increasingly frequent heatwaves linked to climate change, AEMET’s orange-level severe heat alert in several regions will enforce restrictions on outdoor work during the afternoon. This affects professions such as street cleaning and agriculture.
“There are people who are highly affected by such high temperatures, by exposure over many hours and no proper hydration… so my main advice is don’t underestimate them because the body is not prepared to withstand those conditions too long,” said AEMET spokesperson Luis Banon in an interview with Reuters.
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The heatwave is expected to persist until Saturday, with lingering heat potentially extending into the following week. Additionally, haze from Africa, exacerbating health issues during heatwaves, is forecasted to accompany the heat episode.
In Madrid, where temperatures reached 36°C on Wednesday, residents sought relief in parks and fountains. “I cope by using a fan if I’m in the street, and if not, by going to places like a shopping centre, or somewhere where it’s cooler,” explained Angela de la Vega, a retired resident of Madrid, as reported by the international news agency Reuters.
