According to the Ministry of Health's Meteosalud warning system, 26.92 per cent of its forecast zones were classified as high risk at the start of the week. When areas under medium risk are included, more than half of Spain's Meteosalud zones, 57.69 per cent, are affected. Only 15.38 per cent fall outside any risk category.

The warning system uses bright red to indicate the highest level of health risk, giving a literal meaning to the expression "red hot" on the ministry's temperature maps.

During this time, the Ministry of Health advises people to drink water regularly, keep cool and avoid direct exposure to the heat during the hottest part of the day. It adds that older people, pregnant women, children under four, those with chronic illnesses and people who work outdoors are particularly vulnerable.

The day-to-day situation

This current heatwave is forecast to continue until at least Thursday. Analysis of Meteosalud data shows average maximum temperatures across the Iberian Peninsula and the islands of 35.78 degrees Celsius, easing gradually to 35.1 degrees on Thursday (9 July) before dropping to an average of 33.18 degrees on Friday (10 July).

Today, Tuesday, will be particularly hot. A total of 26 Meteosalud zones, or 14.28 per cent, are forecast to reach at least 40 degrees Celsius, with seven expected to record 42 degrees or more. That represents an increase from the previous day, when 19 zones were forecast to hit the 40-degree mark.

7 July

On Wednesday (8 July), the number of zones reaching 40 degrees or more rises to 28, although only three are expected to exceed 42 degrees: the agricultural plain around Seville, the southern interior of Valencia and the agricultural plain around Cordoba. The Cordoba area is forecast to peak at 43.3 degrees Celsius, the highest temperature recorded during the period analysed.

8 July

Although average temperatures begin to ease afterwards, some areas remain exceptionally hot. The southern interior of Valencia is forecast to average 42.8 degrees on 9 July, while 16 Meteosalud zones are still expected to reach at least 40 degrees. By 10 July, only inland Mallorca is forecast to exceed that threshold, with 40.6 degrees Celsius.

10 July

Criteria

Meteosalud does not base its health warnings solely on air temperature. Instead, each area has its own maximum temperature threshold reflecting local climatic conditions, recognising that the same temperature can pose different levels of health risk depending on where it occurs.

Forecasters are also monitoring the heightened wildfire risk, with Spain's meteorological agency, Aemet, predicting conditions favourable for fires as the heatwave continues.