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Spain is already in the midst of the second heatwave of the season and summer doesn’t officially begin until June 21. With heat episodes across the globe becoming more frequent and more extreme, it’s never been as important to keep up to date with the latest weather alerts.

 

Here in Spain, there’s a dedicated National Heat Alert System that lets users know when “above-average” temperatures are expected. And now, thanks to a suggestion from the British Embassy in Madrid, an English-language version has just been launched.

 

According to the Ministry of Health, this English version has been released specifically to serve tourists and expatriate communities residing in Spain.

 

The system is especially useful for vulnerable populations, including elderly individuals, those with pre-existing medical conditions and families with young children, helping them to stay informed and protected during periods of extreme heat.

 

The alert service provides three-day temperature forecasts for unusually high temperatures, with information tailored to each individual province. Additionally, the system offers detailed information for Spain's 182 designated zones, many of which encompass municipalities across multiple provinces.

 

The platform features a comprehensive map of Spain with zones colour-coded according to heat risk levels. Users can access specific information for their area by searching by province and municipality.

 

Crucially, the system accounts for regional climate variations, meaning temperature thresholds vary by location. As the British Embassy illustrates, a temperature of 30°C may not warrant an alert in Sevilla, where such temperatures are typical, but could trigger a warning in Oviedo, where the same temperature would be considered extreme for the region.

 

 

The heat alert system employs four distinct risk levels, each identified by specific colour codes to indicate increasing health risks. Level 0 indicates no risk present, while yellow represents a moderate risk level. Amber signifies a significant risk level, and red indicates maximum risk conditions.

 

 

Image: Ministry of Health