Spain Adds Personal Vulnerability Factors to Heatwave Risk Levels
As summer temperatures continue to rise year after year, Spain’s Ministry of Health is taking a more personalized approach to protecting its citizens from the dangers of extreme heat. On June 5, 2025, Health Minister Mónica García and Héctor Tejero, head of Health and Climate Change, unveiled the 2025 Heat Plan—a comprehensive strategy that will remain active until September 30. This year, the plan introduces a significant new element: personal vulnerability factors will now be integrated into the country’s risk assessment maps for extreme heat events.
A More Precise Heat Risk Mapping System
In 2024, Spain moved away from the traditional model of 52 provincial thresholds and created a more refined system with 182 “meteosalud zones.” These zones represent areas with similar daily temperature patterns, allowing authorities to issue more targeted and accurate heat alerts. Different areas within the same province often experience varying temperatures, and this division helps reflect those local differences more effectively.
For 2025, the system goes a step further by factoring in individual vulnerabilities alongside the general regional risk levels. Vulnerable groups now officially recognized include:
- Adults over 65
- Children under four years old
- Pregnant women
- Individuals undergoing medical treatments
- Patients with cardiovascular or pulmonary diseases
In addition to these medical factors, social and labor conditions also play a role. Outdoor workers, people living in poorly insulated homes, those living alone, and the homeless face higher risks. The Ministry of Health also advises against outdoor exercise during peak heat hours to minimize exposure.
New Tools for the Public and Caregivers
The updated heat risk levels can be viewed on the meteosalud website, which displays all 182 zones across Spain. The four alert levels remain:
- Green (no risk)
- Yellow (low risk)
- Orange (moderate risk)
- Red (high risk)
While the personal vulnerability data is not yet available on the website, the Ministry plans to share updates through social media and public awareness campaigns.
As Héctor Tejero explains, the system aims to “bring the risk levels closer to people’s actual situations, making it easier for caregivers and individuals to adapt their behavior.” For example, a moderate heat alert may pose minimal danger to healthy adults but could become a significant threat to elderly individuals or those with pre-existing medical conditions.
Extreme Heat: A Growing Health Threat
Extreme heat is currently the leading cause of climate change-related deaths in Spain. According to data from the Mortality Monitoring System (MoMo) managed by the National Epidemiology Center of the Carlos III Health Institute, 4,813 people died from heat-related causes in 2022, followed by 3,009 deaths in 2023 and 2,012 in 2024. Other studies suggest these figures may be even higher.
“The mortality linked to heat is just the tip of the iceberg,” said Minister García during the presentation. She emphasized that extreme heat also contributes to a wide range of issues, including workplace accidents, hospital admissions, sleepless nights, and even an increase in gender-based violence, which studies show can worsen under extreme temperatures. Hospitalizations rise by 10%, and work-related accidents increase by 17.4% during heatwaves.
A Coordinated National Response
The Heat Plan is designed not only as a prevention tool but also as a framework for coordinated response. It establishes protocols involving regional governments, social services, and healthcare providers to ensure that vulnerable groups receive the support they need.
Importantly, Minister García highlighted how heat exacerbates existing social inequalities. “It’s not the same to live in a shaded, tree-lined neighborhood as it is to live in an area without any cover. Nor is it the same to live in a home adapted for heat as one without proper ventilation,” she said.
Climate Change Drives Record Temperatures
2024 was officially recorded as Spain’s hottest year to date. The trend shows no signs of reversing: according to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), global temperatures are likely to remain at record or near-record levels for the next five years, bringing increased climate risks, economic impacts, and threats to sustainable development.
In fact, May 2025 already marked the hottest spring heatwave ever recorded in Spain. On May 29, the country experienced its highest-ever spring average maximum temperature, reaching 32.2°C.
Preparing for a Hotter Future
As extreme heat events become more frequent and severe, Spain’s updated Heat Plan represents a proactive and innovative response. By combining environmental data with personal vulnerability assessments, authorities hope to better protect the population—especially those most at risk—from the growing dangers of climate change.