Málaga records 24 tropical nights in June, the third hottest since 1942

Málaga ended June 2026 with temperatures more typical of the height of summer and one particularly striking figure: 24 of the month’s 30 nights were tropical.

This means that temperatures remained above 20°C during 80% of the nights recorded at Málaga Airport’s weather station, which is used as the reference point for the city’s climate statistics.

The monthly figures also make June 2026 the third hottest June recorded in Málaga since the historical series began in 1942, with an average temperature of 25.9°C.

The result is especially significant because the province largely escaped the first major heatwave of the summer, which brought temperatures above 40°C to several areas of northern and inland Spain.

June 2026 enters the ranking of Málaga’s hottest ever

Records from Málaga Airport confirm that June 2026 has only been surpassed by two other June months during the past 84 years.

The hottest remains June 2025, when the monthly average temperature reached 26.2°C. June 2022 remains in second place, with an average of 26.1°C.

The ranking of Málaga’s hottest June months is as follows:

• June 2025: average temperature of 26.2°C.
• June 2022: average temperature of 26.1°C.
• June 2026: average temperature of 25.9°C.

Only three-tenths of a degree separate the three highest figures, reflecting the concentration of exceptionally warm months recorded in recent years.

The data also shows that the three hottest June months in the entire historical series have all occurred within a very recent period.

Málaga experienced 24 tropical nights during June

Night-time temperatures were among the most notable features of the month.

A night is considered tropical when the minimum temperature does not fall below 20°C. In June 2026, this occurred on 24 nights in Málaga.

Only six nights allowed temperatures to drop below this threshold at the airport weather station.

Although these conditions are common during July and August, their high frequency in June suggests that intense night-time heat is arriving progressively earlier in Málaga’s summer calendar.

The same number of tropical nights was recorded in June 2025, indicating that this was not an isolated episode but part of a pattern repeated during recent summers.

Why tropical nights make sleeping more difficult

Persistent heat overnight prevents homes, streets and buildings from releasing the warmth accumulated during the day.

When the outdoor temperature remains above 20°C, cooling rooms through natural ventilation becomes more difficult. The problem is greater in urban areas because of the heat-island effect caused by asphalt, building façades and other surfaces that absorb heat during daylight hours.

The humidity typical of Málaga’s coastline can also increase the feeling of discomfort, even when temperatures are lower than those recorded in inland municipalities.

For many people, the most uncomfortable part of a hot spell therefore comes not during the hottest hours of the day, but when they try to sleep.

The warmest night recorded a minimum of 23.4°C

The highest minimum temperature of the month was recorded on 24 June, when temperatures at Málaga Airport did not fall below 23.4°C.

Despite the high number of tropical nights, the airport weather station did not record any torrid nights, a term used when the minimum temperature remains at 25°C or above.

Similar temperatures may have occurred temporarily in other parts of the province, particularly during terral episodes and in certain municipalities along the coast or in the Guadalhorce Valley.

Differences between weather stations can be considerable due to wind direction, distance from the sea, altitude and the urban characteristics of each location.

The hottest day was 2 June

The month’s highest maximum temperature was recorded on 2 June, during one of the first terral episodes of the summer.

Málaga Airport reached 38.2°C on a day when a yellow warning for high temperatures was in force.

The arrival of the hot wind also meant that several municipalities across the province remained close to 30°C after midnight, making sleeping especially difficult.

However, June brought only three days clearly associated with terral conditions in Málaga, and one of these was considered moderate.

This shows that a prolonged succession of extreme heat episodes was not necessary for the monthly average temperature to reach one of the highest levels in the historical series.

The heat persisted even without a major Málaga heatwave

The province of Málaga avoided the first significant heatwave of the summer, which produced exceptional temperatures in other parts of Spain.

While some areas of northern Spain reached or exceeded 40°C, the maritime influence and easterly winds helped contain daytime highs in Málaga on several days.

The nearby Alboran Sea has a moderating effect on temperatures along the coast. However, this same maritime influence also contributes to higher humidity and elevated night-time temperatures.

Málaga can therefore experience lower daytime highs than other Andalusian provinces while continuing to endure warmer and more uncomfortable nights.

June’s figures reflect precisely this combination: relatively few days of extreme heat, but a very persistent pattern of night-time temperatures above 20°C.

July and August will bring more tropical nights

The arrival of July marks the beginning of the hottest period of the year in Málaga.

During July and August, almost every night can become tropical in Málaga city and across much of the Costa del Sol. The most intense terral episodes also increase the likelihood of torrid nights, with minimum temperatures of 25°C or higher.

Seasonal forecasts point to temperatures above normal levels during summer 2026. This does not make it possible to predict exactly how many terral episodes will occur or the specific maximum temperatures that will be reached, but it does indicate a higher probability of a warm summer overall.

The climatological summer covers June, July and August. Following the conditions recorded during its first month, Málaga is entering the central part of the season with temperatures already among the highest in its historical series.

Tips for coping with hot nights in Málaga

With more warm nights expected, several simple measures can help reduce indoor temperatures:

• Keep blinds, shutters and windows closed during the hours of strongest sunlight.
• Ventilate the home overnight or early in the morning.
• Avoid using appliances that generate unnecessary heat.
• Drink water regularly, even without feeling particularly thirsty.
• Use light and breathable bedding.
• Sleep in the coolest rooms with the least direct exposure to sunlight.
• Pay particular attention to children, older people and other vulnerable individuals.

When a weather warning is in force, it is also advisable to avoid intense physical activity during the hottest hours and to follow the recommendations issued by health and emergency services.

Málaga begins the summer with near-record temperatures

June’s figures confirm that warm nights have become one of the defining characteristics of summer in Málaga.

The average temperature of 25.9°C places the month among the hottest recorded since 1942, while the 24 tropical nights demonstrate how increasingly difficult it is to find relief after sunset.

The temperatures recorded during July and August will determine the final position of summer 2026 within Málaga’s historical climate rankings. For now, its opening month has already produced figures associated with an exceptionally hot summer.

Official weather records, climate monitoring information and forecasts are available from the Spanish State Meteorological Agency (AEMET).