The Community of Madrid has activated Level 1 heat risk for this weekend in response to forecasts that temperatures will approach or even exceed 37–38 degrees in much of the region. This is the first significant warning of the summer under the Plan for Monitoring the Health Effects of Heat Waves and is accompanied by a yellow alert from Aemet for high temperatures.
Level 1 is the precautionary or moderate-risk stage within Madrid’s system: it is activated when the forecast for maximum temperatures above the comfort threshold persists for at least three consecutive days. It does not entail restrictions on movement, but it does trigger public health prevention measures and coordination among emergency services, hospitals, and health centers. The Community is stepping up the dissemination of basic advice (stay hydrated, avoid the sun during midday hours, take special care of the elderly, children, and those with chronic illnesses) and is monitoring temperature trends on a daily basis.
Forecast temperatures: up to 38 degrees
According to forecasts from the Health Department and Aemet, Saturday will be the most critical day of this heat wave, with highs that could exceed 37 degrees in several areas of the region. In municipalities in the south and along the Henares Corridor—such as Getafe, Alcalá de Henares, and Aranjuez—peaks of around 38–39 degrees are expected, with the possibility of reaching 40 degrees in the areas that are traditionally the hottest. Tropical nights are also expected in Madrid and its metropolitan area, with lows that won’t drop below 24–25 degrees, making it difficult to sleep and increasing heat stress.
The rise in temperatures is already noticeable today , with readings around 34 degrees in the Sierra and 36 degrees elsewhere, and the heat will persist on Sunday, when highs will remain near 38 degrees in lowland areas, though with a slight tendency to stabilize. The State Meteorological Agency is maintaining the yellow warning for high temperatures during the midday hours on Saturday and Sunday across almost the entire region, except for the highest elevations of the Sierra.
What measures are implemented and who is protected
With Level 1, the Regional Ministry of Health activates the Heat Wave Monitoring Plan, which includes: strengthening coordination between primary care, hospitals, and SUMMA 112; specific monitoring of nursing homes and day centers; and disseminating information to city councils and social services.
The groups requiring the most attention are older adults living alone, patients with cardiovascular or respiratory diseases, young children, and workers performing outdoor tasks during the hottest hours of the day. Those around them are advised to be especially watchful for signs of exhaustion, dizziness, severe headache, very hot and dry skin, or confusion—symptoms that may indicate heatstroke.
Basic tips for the weekend
Health authorities emphasize a series of simple but essential guidelines for these days of extreme heat: drink water frequently even if you’re not thirsty, avoid alcohol and very heavy meals, wear light, light-colored clothing, and avoid intense exercise during the middle of the day. At home, it is recommended to keep blinds closed during daylight hours, ventilate the home first thing in the morning and last thing at night, use fans or air conditioning sparingly, and, if these are not available, spend a few hours in air-conditioned public spaces (shopping malls, libraries, cultural centers).
It is also advised never to leave vulnerable individuals, children, or pets in parked vehicles, even for a short time, and to take extreme precautions if spending the day at swimming pools, reservoirs, or rivers, combining protection from the heat with caution when swimming. In case of severe discomfort or symptoms consistent with heatstroke, call 112 or go to the nearest health facility.
