More than a thousand people have died from heat so far this year.

The Health and Climate Change Observatory (OSCC) held a monitoring meeting to assess the evolution of extreme temperatures and their impact on public health in recent weeks. Data from the State Meteorological Agency (AEMET), the Carlos III Health Institute (through the Daily Mortality Monitoring System (MoMo), and the Ministry of Health for the period from May 16 to July 13, 2025, were shared at the meeting.

The data analyzed confirm an exceptionally intense thermal episode , characterized by an unprecedented rise in average temperatures and a significant increase in mortality attributable to heat waves . According to AEMET records, June 2025 reached an average monthly temperature of 23.6°C, 0.8°C higher than the previous historical maximum recorded in June 2017. This figure also exceeds the average for the 1991-2020 climate period by 3.5°C. Furthermore, weather forecasts indicate that July will continue with temperatures above the historical average across the entire country, with an estimated probability of over 70%.

Regarding the period analyzed, 76 red risk levels for extreme heat were recorded in different areas of the country, the highest level within the meteorological temperature monitoring system. This figure contrasts with data from the same period in 2024, when no red levels were activated, reflecting a substantial change in the severity of the weather conditions observed this year.

The health effects have been equally significant. The Carlos III Health Institute's MoMo system has attributed a total of 1,180 deaths to heat waves between May 16 and July 13, 2025. This figure represents an increase of more than 1,300% compared to the same period in 2024 , when 70 deaths were recorded. Furthermore, in the first week of July, heat-attributable deaths increased by 47% compared to the overall June figure, revealing an upward trend in health impacts .

An analysis of the demographic profile of the deaths indicates that 95.08% of the deceased were over 65 years old . Of the total, 59.24% were women. This distribution is due both to the greater presence of women in older age groups and to physiological factors that contribute to greater vulnerability to the effects of heat .

Regarding the territorial distribution of mortality attributable to heat waves, the most affected autonomous communities have been Galicia , La Rioja , Asturias , and Cantabria . These regions, which have historically experienced moderate summer temperatures, are currently experiencing a significant increase in climate vulnerability . This phenomenon could be related to a reduced structural and social adaptation to extreme heat events.

Since the plan was activated, the autonomous communities have reported ten deaths attributable to heat stroke . Five of the cases are in people over 65 years of age , four are between 52 and 62 years of age , and one is unknown.

The Health and Climate Change Observatory (OSCC) held a monitoring meeting to assess the evolution of extreme temperatures and their impact on public health in recent weeks. Data from the State Meteorological Agency (AEMET), the Carlos III Health Institute (through the Daily Mortality Monitoring System (MoMo), and the Ministry of Health for the period from May 16 to July 13, 2025, were shared at the meeting.