@kernow_weather_team: Southern Europe is continuing to battle one of its most dangerous wildfire seasons in years, and the situation in Spain has become so serious that a national state of emergency has now been declared. Authorities say that two of the three major wildfires burning east of Madrid are on the verge of merging into one enormous blaze, creating an even greater challenge for firefighters. Officials have described the situation as "out of control", with strong winds, extreme heat and exceptionally dry vegetation allowing the flames to spread at incredible speed. Current estimates suggest that around 104,000 acres (over 42,000 hectares) have already been burned by these fires, leaving huge areas of countryside devastated and threatening homes, businesses and wildlife. Thousands of firefighters, military emergency units, helicopters and water-bombing aircraft are working around the clock in an attempt to stop the advancing flames. The wildfire crisis isn't confined to Spain either. Across southern Europe, wildfires are burning in several countries. More than 100,000 people have now been forced to evacuate across Spain and France. In southwestern France, two major wildfires west of Bordeaux continue to threaten one of the country's most popular holiday destinations, with thousands of residents and tourists having to escape by road or even by boat as the flames approached the coast. Scientists say a combination of prolonged drought, repeated heatwaves, strong winds and climate change is creating ideal conditions for larger, faster-moving and more intense wildfires across much of southern Europe. Once fires reach this size, they can generate so much heat that they begin creating their own local weather, making them even more difficult and dangerous to control. Our thoughts are with everyone affected, especially those who have had to leave their homes, the emergency services risking their lives on the front line, and the wildlife caught in the path of these devastating fires.

Kernow Weather Team

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Region: GB

Saturday 25 July 2026 10:23:32 GMT