Portugal’s June Heatwaves Up To 46.6°C Shatter Records

Portugal has just endured its most punishing start to the summer in recent memory, with two powerful heatwaves arriving only a week apart, smashing temperature records and driving a spike in heat-related deaths. Meteorologists and health officials say the episode offers an uncomfortable preview of summers to come, especially for newcomers who may not yet be acclimated to the country’s increasingly torrid climate.

A relentless June: twin surges in temperature

June normally marks the beginning of real warmth in mainland Portugal, yet this year the month delivered back-to-back extremes. The first hot spell settled over the country from 15 to 20 June, lifting daytime highs well above seasonal norms at a dozen of the Portuguese Institute for Sea and Atmosphere’s 90 monitoring stations. Barely had that surge eased when a second, broader wave arrived on 27 June and refused to budge for more than a week; by its peak nearly six in ten stations were registering heat-wave conditions.

When and where the mercury went off scale

The Alentejo interior—which foreigners often choose for its spacious countryside—took the brunt. On 29 June the town of Mora in Évora district posted a staggering 46.6 °C, setting a new national June record and eclipsing the previous mark of 44.9 °C set in 2017. Neighbouring Alvega hit 45.4 °C, while Portalegre endured a sweltering night that never fell below 31.5 °C. Roughly one-third of all observation sites either matched or exceeded their historical June maxima during the episode. For perspective, the average maximum temperature recorded nationwide on 29 June reached 38.5 °C—almost 12 degrees above what is considered normal for the month.

How hot is a ‘heatwave’ in Portugal?

Under IPMA’s definition, a heatwave is logged when the daily high remains at least 5 °C above the long-term average for six consecutive days. June is statistically the month most prone to fulfilling that criterion, but this year’s values were exceptional. Preliminary data classify June 2025 as both very hot and very dry: overall air temperatures ran 2.14 °C above the 30-year mean, with daytime peaks up 2.87 °C and nights 1.40 °C warmer than usual.

Health toll: what we know so far

The Directorate-General of Health activated its heat alert on 28 June, yet by the time the warning period had ended officials had tallied 284 excess deaths—more than two-thirds of them among people aged 85 and older. No unusual mortality emerged in age groups below 70. Although the figure is lower than the 715 excess deaths recorded during a July hot spell last year, it is comparable to 2023, underscoring a pattern of yearly summertime spikes. Health authorities stress that a modest upward revision is still possible, particularly in the Alentejo where temperatures lingered longest.

Climate context: drying trend sharpens the sting

Heat was only part of the story. Rainfall in June amounted to around one-fifth of the normal monthly total, making it the fourth driest June since 1931. Mild meteorological drought has now expanded across the northwest and the leeward Algarve, a situation that can exacerbate wildfire risk and strain water supplies familiar to California transplants but new to many Central-European residents.

Living with extreme heat: advice for newcomers

Portugal’s public health service issued guidelines well before the second heatwave, urging residents to stay hydrated, limit outdoor activity from mid-morning to early evening, and watch for symptoms of heat exhaustion among older neighbours. Foreign residents—especially those in traditional stone farmhouses without modern insulation—may find interior temperatures climb quickly and should consider shutters, dehumidifiers, or temporary air-conditioning units. Authorities also encourage registering with local parish councils so that civil-protection teams know where seniors or isolated expatriates live.

Looking ahead: is this the new normal?

Climatologists at IPMA point to a clear upward trend in both the frequency and intensity of Iberian heatwaves, a development consistent with broader Mediterranean warming projections. While 46 °C still counts as extraordinary, modelling suggests that what felt like an outlier a decade ago could occur several times per summer by mid-century. For foreigners weighing a move to Portugal’s sunny coast or hinterland, the message is stark: paradise is getting hotter, and adapting sooner rather than later will be essential.