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The Spanish Ministry of Health introduced its ‘National Action Plan against the Effects of Excess Temperatures on Health’ this Thursday May 16, preparing for another sweltering summer season ahead.

 

This Plan allows the health authorities and the State Meteorological Agency (Aemet) to alert people in case of a heatwave.

 

A major change this year involves dividing Spain into 182 isoclimatic zones, which are areas within a province that have a similar climate in terms of temperature. So, rather than the Region of Murcia having a set temperature threshold of say, 35ºC, at which point the entire community would be placed on alert, it’s been divided up.

 

In each of these areas, the Carlos III Health Institute has calculated these heat thresholds where “a significant statistical relationship between mortality and heat has been observed”.

 

For the summer of 2024, heat alerts will be issued in the Region of Murcia when the following temperatures are reached:

 

 

 

In the rest of Spain, the thresholds range between 24°C in Asturias and more than 40°C in Córdoba. Extreme heat warnings at the weather alert zone level will be available starting June 3.

 

There are four risk levels: level 0 (green), no risk, level 1 (yellow), low risk, level 2 (orange), medium risk and level 3 (red), high risk. Depending on these levels, the Ministry and autonomous communities will take “corresponding risk communication and prevention measures”.

 

This information will be updated daily on the Ministry of Health website (www.sanidad.gob.es).

 

Citizens will also be able to subscribe until September 30 to a free service to receive by email and mobile phone the prediction of temperatures and the risk level of their requested province.

 

Data from MoMo (Daily Mortality Monitoring System from all causes) shows that between the years of 2015 and 2023, some 21,774 people died as a result of exposure to extreme temperatures.

 

The year 2022, with 4,789 deaths attributable to heat, was the highest to date, followed by 2023 with 3,009 deaths.

 

 

Images: Ministry of Health