Madrid faces a sweltering weekend with temperatures up to 39 degrees

Saturday will already be a tough day. The forecast points to highs of around 37 degrees in the capital, with a yellow warning for heat in the Metropolitana y Henares area from midday to the afternoon. The sky will be mostly clear and the sun will dominate for much of the day.

The night from Friday to Saturday will also bring some instability. AEMET is maintaining a yellow warning for storms in the metropolitan area, with the possibility of very strong gusts of wind and hail until the early hours. Afterwards, the heat will once again take centre stage.

Sunday will be the most challenging day of the weekend. Highs could reach 39 degrees in Madrid, with an orange warning for extreme temperatures between 13:00 and 21:00. It will be a day to avoid exertion during the hottest hours and to seek shade, water, and cool spaces.

The minimum temperatures will not offer much relief either. The capital will see lows between 22 and 24 degrees overnight, values that could make it difficult to sleep in poorly ventilated homes or in neighbourhoods where the asphalt retains more heat at night.

No significant rain is expected during the central part of the weekend, beyond the possible initial instability. The weather will be stable and very hot, with dry conditions and a full summer feel from early on.

The recommendation is to go for walks, exercise, and shopping early in the morning, avoid direct sun from midday to mid-afternoon, drink water frequently, and pay attention to children, the elderly, people with chronic illnesses, and pets.

This weekend Madrid will continue to offer plans, terraces, and outdoor activities, but the heat will set the pace. The key will be to choose the right times: early morning or late evening for being outside, and shelter indoors during the hottest hours of the day.