The Warmest Summer

Historic Records

Formentera, 11 September 2026

Formentera is experiencing its warmest summer on record in 2026. Data from the Spanish State Meteorological Agency (AEMET) shows a season marked by exceptionally high temperatures, a large number of extremely hot nights and three heatwaves.

The average summer temperature has reached 27.3°C, 2.5 degrees above normal levels. The heat has persisted both during the day and at night, with temperatures far higher than those normally recorded on the island.

The high temperatures have also coincided with a significant lack of rainfall. During the summer months, Formentera has received approximately half its usual rainfall, while July ended without any rain at all.

Following this exceptional summer, weather forecasts continue to point to above-normal temperatures over the coming months. AEMET expects this trend to continue throughout the October-to-December period, although rainfall is forecast to remain around normal levels.

71 days above 30°C

The persistence of the heat is reflected in the number of days with maximum temperatures of 30°C or higher. Formentera recorded 71 hot days this summer, slightly above the usual figure of 68.
August was the month with the highest average temperature, reaching 28.6°C. July was close behind at 28.3°C, while June recorded an average of 24.9°C.

The temperature anomaly was particularly pronounced in July, when the average temperature was 2.9 degrees above normal. In August, temperatures were 2.5 degrees above average.

Tropical nights and torrid nights

Night-time temperatures produced some of the summer’s most significant figures. Formentera recorded 80 tropical nights, compared with the usual 67.
A tropical night is one in which the minimum temperature does not fall below 20°C. This is a common phenomenon during the summer months along the Mediterranean coast, although the unusually high number recorded this year highlights just how persistent the heat has been overnight.

Even more significant was the number of torrid nights, a term used when minimum temperatures remain around or above 25°C. Formentera recorded 22 such nights, more than three times the usual figure of seven.

Three heatwaves

Another exceptional feature of the summer was the occurrence of three heatwaves. According to AEMET, three such episodes had never previously been recorded during a single summer since the start of the period covered by the data.

The first heatwave occurred between 6 and 9 July. The other two took place in August, one between 7 and 9 August and another, longer episode between 14 and 20 August.

Half the usual rainfall

In addition to the extreme heat, the summer has been particularly dry. Formentera received just 11 litres per square metre of rainfall, compared with the usual 22 litres. This means rainfall was 49% below normal levels.
July was particularly dry and ended without any rainfall. June saw 1.4 litres per square metre, 78% below normal, while August recorded 10 litres, 25% below average.

The heaviest rainfall occurred on 20 August, when a storm brought 7.4 litres per square metre to Formentera. The unstable weather also brought strong wind gusts to the island, reaching speeds of 91 kilometres per hour.
AEMET forecasts indicate that temperatures will remain above normal levels during the October-to-December period.