The heat wave continues, with temperatures reaching 43ºC in these areas, but Aemet warns: this is what will happen for the rest of August.

The heat is pressing and relentless. August has started strongly throughout Spain, and much of the country has been experiencing a stifling heat wave for days now, which not only persists but also threatens to last at least until Wednesday. The most extreme temperatures are concentrated in the interior of the peninsula, where thermometers exceed 40 degrees Celsius daily, especially in parts of Andalusia, Castilla-La Mancha, Extremadura, Aragon, Madrid, and Castilla y León.

An orange alert (significant risk) is in effect for large areas of these communities, while in other regions such as Galicia, Navarre, and the Canary Islands, temperatures are also exceeding 40°C in certain areas. In the Canary Islands, the heat is particularly intense in the east, south, and west of Gran Canaria and Tenerife, where nighttime lows barely drop below 30°C, making it difficult to rest and increasing the feeling of heat exhaustion.

08/08 00:06 Warnings active today and tomorrow in Spain for storms, maximum temperatures, and rainfall. Maximum warning level: orange. Updates at https://t.co/BLdoSsO2Qv pic.twitter.com/aScYT6RX97

The Aemet (Mexico City Meteorological Agency) has also issued yellow heat warnings in Catalonia, the Basque Country, La Rioja, Cantabria , and the Balearic Islands, where, although temperatures are somewhat milder, they are still higher than usual for this time of year. Only the Cantabrian coast closest to the sea and some areas of the Mediterranean coast, such as the Valencian Community and Murcia, have escaped (for now) the harshness of the extreme heat.

The storms, which have been present for several days, will continue into the afternoon in many inland regions of the Iberian Peninsula. Regions such as Aragon, Castile and León, Castile-La Mancha, Extremadura, and Madrid could experience intense downpours accompanied by very strong wind gusts, a dangerous combination that has emergency services on alert due to the risk of forest fires.

What will happen the rest of the month?

Health authorities insist on extreme caution, especially for the elderly, children, pregnant women, those with chronic illnesses, and those who work outdoors. Staying hydrated, avoiding going out during the peak hours of the day , and staying in cool places remains the best way to weather this prolonged heat wave.

During the week of the 18th to the 24th, the heat will intensify again across most of Spain, with above-normal temperatures, especially in the eastern peninsula and the Balearic Islands. The southwest could be spared this temperature spike, but there are no guarantees. Precipitation will continue to be scarce and localized, and if it occurs, it will be in the form of occasional thunderstorms in inland areas.

The last week of August, from the 25th to the 31st, is shrouded in greater uncertainty. For now, the forecast points to a more "normal" temperature scenario , although the northeast of the Iberian Peninsula and the Balearic Islands could remain above normal. Rain will continue to be absent in the center and south of the country, which could further aggravate the drought in some watersheds.