"Highs above 42°C": The first heat wave of the summer is already reaching Spain, and Aemet has activated the orange level in these areas.

Thermometers will not let up in the coming days across much of Spain. The first heat wave of the summer will hit our country in just a few hours, and the Aemet ( Mexico City Meteorological Agency) has already activated orange-level warnings in key areas of Andalusia , where the highest temperatures are expected. The provinces of Córdoba, Jaén, and Seville will be the worst hit, with forecasts exceeding 40°C. This major risk warning poses a considerable risk to daily activities, so extreme precautions are recommended.

Huelva and Granada will also experience high temperatures, with yellow warnings ranging between 36 and 38°C. The Cádiz coast will also have to contend with Levante winds that could reach 61 km/h in the Strait of Gibraltar. But the heat isn't limited to the south. The northeast of the Iberian Peninsula will also feel the harshness of summer. Aragon and Catalonia are under yellow warnings, with temperatures ranging between 36 and 38°C.

Further north, La Rioja and the Autonomous Community of Navarre face a similar scenario, with highs of 36°C, especially along the banks of the Ebro. The capital also faces this initial onslaught of heat. The Community of Madrid maintains its yellow warning, with temperatures of up to 36°C affecting the metropolitan area, Henares, the southern zone, Las Vegas, and the western areas. The situation is very similar to that of Extremadura , where both Cáceres and Badajoz will see temperatures rise to 36-38°C.

In the heart of the Iberian Peninsula, Castile and León will also be affected by this heat wave, although in a more localized manner. Only the province of Ávila has activated a yellow alert in its southern region, with forecasts of up to 36°C. Meanwhile, in Castile-La Mancha , the heat will spread to the provinces of Albacete, Toledo, Cuenca, and Ciudad Real , with temperatures ranging between 34 and 38°C.

The Canary Islands will also experience the effects of a Saharan air mass in their eastern half. Although heat wave thresholds will not be reached, temperatures will rise on Friday and Saturday, especially in the mid-mountain ranges and south-facing peaks of Gran Canaria, and in Lanzarote, where temperatures could reach between 34 and 36°C on Saturday, accompanied by haze on the eastern islands.

It's important to remember that, although a yellow alert indicates a minor risk to the general population, it can pose a danger to specific activities. An orange alert, on the other hand, implies a significant meteorological risk, requiring increased attention and preventive measures.

And what will happen at night?

The nights won't offer much respite either. Minimum temperatures will remain unusually high in the coming days, with temperatures falling below 23-25°C in large areas of the southern half and the Ebro Valley. This will make it difficult to rest and increase the feeling of muggy conditions.

Looking ahead to next week, uncertainty is growing. Starting Monday , a high-altitude disturbance is expected to move in, bringing cloudiness and thunderstorms to the central and eastern peninsula. Although precipitation is expected to be light, it could be accompanied by very strong wind gusts. The most likely forecast calls for a change in the pattern starting July 1 , with the entry of a cooler, more humid Atlantic air mass through the northwest of the peninsula. This would initiate a drop in temperature that would gradually spread to the rest of the northern half of the country.