Portugal has just experienced its third hottest June on record, and experts warn that this could be the new normal. A severe heatwave swept across the Iberian Peninsula in late June, pushing temperatures to unprecedented levels.
According to the Portuguese Institute for the Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA), the inland town of Mora in the Evora district reached a blistering 46.6 degrees Celsius on June 29—the highest temperature ever recorded in Portugal during June.
Data from IPMA confirmed that June 2025 was not only the third warmest but also the fourth driest June since national records began.
Climate Change Driving Extreme Heat
Climate expert José Álvaro Silva explained that climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of early-season heatwaves. “These events are becoming part of our new climate reality,” he said.
Silva noted that the recent heatwave was triggered by a mass of hot air from North Africa, trapped over the region by a high-pressure system—a phenomenon known as a “heat dome.” High sea surface temperatures in the Mediterranean and persistent lack of cloud cover further fueled the extreme heat.
Potential for Even Hotter Summers
Ricardo Trigo, a climatologist at the University of Lisbon, pointed to two key amplifying factors: parched soil and abnormally warm Mediterranean waters. “If two years from now we again see warm Mediterranean seas and severe winter-spring drought over the Iberian Peninsula, the resulting heatwave could be even more intense than this one,” he warned.
The Portuguese Directorate-General of Health reported that 69 excess deaths occurred nationwide during the heat alert period, which began on June 28. Most of the victims were aged 85 and above.
Looking ahead, Silva added that seasonal forecasts predict continued above-average—and even well-above-average—temperatures in July and August, creating favorable conditions for further heatwaves. He emphasized that this trend is likely to persist in the coming decades.
