Spain’s first summer heat wave reaches 43 °C, red alert in Basque Country, and labor inspectors notify 113,000 businesses
An intense heat wave marks the start of summer in Spain, with the Basque Country under a rare red alert as temperatures surge toward 44 °C. Aemet warns of dangerously high day and night temperatures through midweek, while the Labor Inspectorate sends over 113,000 notices to outdoor employers.
Record-breaking start to summer
The first major heat wave of the year arrived right on the summer solstice, engulfing much of the country. The State Meteorological Agency (Aemet) issued a special warning for “very high daytime and nighttime temperatures at least until next Wednesday” and declared a red alert in the Basque Country, where thermometers could break records by reaching 44 °C. In Lleida, temperatures already touched 43 °C, surprising residents who normally associate such extremes with southern Spain. Forecasts for the weekend and early next week placed maximums of 42 °C in Bilbao, 41 °C in Ciudad Real, Zaragoza, Toledo, Jaén and Córdoba, and as high as 43 °C in Zaragoza and Lleida by Monday.
- Lleida
- 43 °C
- Zaragoza
- 43 °C
- Bilbao
- 42 °C
- Ciudad Real
- 42 °C
- Logroño
- 42 °C
- Toledo
- 41 °C
- Jaén
- 41 °C
- Córdoba
- 41 °C
Nighttime offers no relief
The heat persisted after sunset. Aemet described the night in parts of Almería as “a night from hell”, with temperatures staying above 30 °C. A resident said she could not sleep and relied only on a fan. In contrast, the Canary Islands recorded the lowest nighttime values on Saturday. Meteorologists expect tropical nights to continue in several regions for days, compounding the strain on people without air conditioning.
Labor protections kick in
In response, the Labor Inspectorate prepared 113,916 notices to companies in agriculture and construction, reminding them of their duty to protect workers from extreme heat. The warnings cite article 21 of the occupational risk law, which obliges employers to halt activity when a serious and imminent danger exists. Workers may interrupt their tasks and leave the workplace, and they cannot be forced to return while the threat remains.
There is no automatic temperature that entitles you not to show up, so it’s advisable to always communicate the situation to the company and, where appropriate, to the legal representatives and the Inspection before making unilateral decisions.
Spanish legislation also provides a “climatic paid leave” of up to four days under a 2004 decree, originally designed for catastrophes but now applied to heat emergencies. The leave requires an official alert and either a real risk to physical integrity or an objective impossibility of reaching the workplace. If the episode exceeds four days, companies may adopt other exceptional measures.
Practical advice for staying cool
For households without air conditioning, ceiling fans become a go-to solution, but many believe a false ceiling is necessary to run the wiring. Construction engineer Daniel Beguería explained that a “triplano” cable can be embedded in the plaster layer between the concrete slab and the finish.
It’s very important that it sits flush with the plaster so the mark doesn’t show later, and even more important to use mesh over this area to prevent cracks over time.
Authorities nationwide repeat the standard advice: stay hydrated, use sun protection, avoid the sun during peak hours, and, for many, simply stay home.
