Clear / cloudy in Madrid — 35°C, wind 8 km/h

Madrid is baking under extreme heat today, with temperatures hitting 35°C this afternoon — the sort of weather that sends sensible Spaniards indoors for a siesta and has tourists wilting over their tapas.

The Spanish capital recorded the searing temperature at 2pm local time, with clear to partly cloudy skies overhead and mercifully light winds of just 8 kilometres per hour. There's been no rain to offer relief.

What 35°C actually feels like

For those of us more accustomed to a British summer, 35°C is properly hot — the kind of heat where tarmac shimmers, car steering wheels become too hot to touch, and even the shade offers limited comfort. It's several degrees warmer than the UK's record temperature of 40.3°C feels in its opening stages, though Madrid's drier climate makes it slightly more bearable than the same temperature would feel in humid conditions.

At this temperature, health authorities typically advise staying hydrated, avoiding the midday sun, and checking on elderly neighbours — all sensible precautions that Madrileños know well from their famously fierce summers.

Summer heat or climate concern?

Whilst August heat is nothing new in central Spain, where summer temperatures regularly climb into the mid-thirties, the "extreme heat" classification suggests this is notably warm even by Madrid's standards. The city sits on a high plateau and typically experiences a continental climate with hot, dry summers and cold winters.

The light winds offer little relief — at just 8 kilometres per hour, there's barely enough breeze to flutter a fan, let alone cool anyone down. That's roughly the speed of a gentle walking pace, so anyone hoping for a cooling wind will be disappointed.

The conditions remain ongoing, so residents and visitors alike will be hoping for cooler air as evening approaches, when temperatures typically become more comfortable.

Have you been caught in Madrid's heat, or does it remind you of a scorching holiday abroad? Perhaps you've got tips for keeping cool when the mercury climbs? Do share your thoughts below.