Temperatures to Peak Above 35°C in Madrid, Zaragoza, and Seville from Thursday to Saturday

Spain braces for an unusual late September heatwave, with temperatures set to exceed 35°C in cities like Madrid, Zaragoza, and Seville between Thursday and Saturday.

## Autumn Arrives with Summer Heat

The start of astronomical autumn, beginning early Wednesday, will not bring the expected cooler weather. Instead, an exceptionally warm air mass, driven by a Saharan ridge, will cause an intense heat episode across large areas of the Peninsula. The hottest part of the day will be most affected, although nights will start to cool down, which is natural for this time of year as days shorten. This phenomenon is expected to peak between Thursday and Saturday, with the establishment of a heat dome keeping temperatures elevated.

## Record Temperatures in Several Capitals

Forecasts indicate Friday will be the hottest day of the week nationwide. In **Seville**, temperatures could reach up to **38°C**, a figure also expected in **Cordoba** and **Murcia**. Other capitals won't be far behind: **Badajoz** could see highs of **37°C**, while **Zaragoza** will be around **36°C**. In **Madrid**, maximum temperatures could rise to **33°C**, similar to the forecast for **Ourense**. In contrast, cities like **Burgos**, **Teruel**, **Salamanca**, and **Vitoria** will experience cool dawns, with minimums around **12-13°C**, but tropical nights, with minimums not dropping below 25°C, will return to the Mediterranean coast and some areas of **Andalusia**.

## Heat Extends to the Islands and Marks Anomalies in Europe

The heat episode will not be limited to the Peninsula. The **Canary Islands** will also experience a significant temperature rise, with highs potentially exceeding **35°C** between Thursday and Friday, especially in the eastern province. It's not ruled out that **40°C** could be reached or even surpassed at times. The early mornings of Thursday and Friday will be warm, with minimums not dropping below **25°C**. Suspended dust and possible showers with mud are expected.

Spain is shaping up to be one of the European countries with the largest warm anomalies this week. Most of the territory will register temperatures more than **4°C** above the usual average for late September. This intense heat, which has contributed to drying up water sources in much of the country during the month, could break some historical records. From Sunday onwards, the situation is expected to change gradually, with the possible arrival of cooler upper-level air and fronts bringing a widespread temperature drop and more unstable conditions.