Spain’s second major heatwave of the summer intensified on 9 July, with the national meteorological agency AEMET activating orange (‘significant risk’) alerts in ten autonomous communities including Andalusia, Catalonia, Madrid and Valencia. Temperatures were forecast to exceed 42 °C in river-basin interiors and major city centres. Tourism boards in Seville, Zaragoza and Palma urged visitors to schedule sightseeing before 11 a.m. or after sunset, while airport ground-handling firms introduced split shifts and extra hydration breaks. Occupational-safety rules mean outdoor construction sites must halt when the ‘Humidex’ index crosses 39, potentially delaying multinational facility upgrades. The Ministry of Health reminded employers that newly arrived expatriate staff often underestimate Iberian summer heat and has re-issued multilingual guidance on heat-stroke prevention. Insurers meanwhile warned that delays caused by medical episodes linked to extreme heat are generally not covered under standard travel-delay clauses, urging corporates to review policy wording before peak relocation season in August. Looking ahead, AEMET expects the heatwave to abate from 12 July as Atlantic fronts enter the northwest, but above-average night-time minima (‘tropical nights’) will persist, raising energy-cost considerations for serviced apartments and long-stay hotels.
Source: Europa Press
