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Heatwave Mallorca: Warning Levels, Protection Obligations and What to Do in an Emergency

Responsible for this content: Frank Menze

A heatwave in Mallorca is no longer an exceptional occurrence in summer 2026, but a recurring reality – media reported several waves with Orange and Red warning levels, and in early August the highest sea temperature ever recorded off Spanish coasts was measured off the island, at 33 degrees. For you as a German-speaking resident, this raises a very practical question: how do you know when things get serious, and what changes legally when a gardener, pool service or household help work outdoors for you? This guide explains the Spanish warning level system, the obligation – in force since 2023 – to adjust working hours during heat, the temperature requirements for indoor spaces and home office work, as well as the right behaviour for you, your family and pets – soberly, without scaremongering and without invented degree figures.

Heatwave in Mallorca: warning levels, rights and protection

Do you know whether Warning Level Orange currently applies to your property – and what that means for your gardener?

Why the warning level matters – not the thermometer

The most important and at the same time most misunderstood point: there is no fixed temperature threshold at which a heatwave officially begins or a particular warning level is triggered. Responsible is the state agency AEMET (Agencia Estatal de Meteorología), which sets its own threshold values for each area – these differ by region, because a value that is everyday life in Andalusia may already be unusual in the Balearics. In practical terms, this means: it's not the thermometer at your house that decides, but the warning level issued by AEMET for your area.

Please note:Anyone searching online for a fixed degree figure for "Warning Level Orange" or "Warning Level Red" won't find a reliable one – the thresholds vary by area and are continuously adjusted by AEMET to the respective weather situation. Rely on the current warning, not on a number you remember from last year.

Warning level Meaning What you should do
Yellow Increased attention, no acute danger under normal circumstances Keep an eye on the weather situation, plan outdoor work carefully
Orange Significant risk, particular caution required Avoid strenuous outdoor activities, adjust your schedule
Red Exceptional, high risk Do as little as possible outdoors, working hours must be adjusted

In June 2025, for example, Warning Level Yellow applied to parts of the island due to heat, with forecast highs of up to 37 degrees in the centre of the island and municipalities such as Campos, Llucmajor and Calvià particularly affected – a good example of how localised and region-specific AEMET warnings can be. You can find the current situation for your area directly on the homepage of aemet.es.

Working in the heat: the obligation during Orange and Red warnings

Since Real Decreto-ley 4/2023, de 11 de mayo came into force, Real Decreto 486/1997 (the minimum health and safety requirements for workplaces) has been supplemented with its own additional provision that regulates exactly this situation. It applies explicitly to outdoor work and to workplaces that cannot be closed due to the nature of the activity.

The core of the regulation, in plain terms: if AEMET or the responsible regional authority issues a warning of level Orange or Red for adverse weather phenomena – explicitly including extreme temperatures – and the usual precautionary measures are not sufficient to protect employees, then adjusting the working conditions is mandatory. This explicitly includes reducing or rescheduling the planned working hours. This requirement applies to all workplaces, not just construction sites or agriculture.

Element Content
Regulation Real Decreto 486/1997, Disposición adicional única (inserted by RD-ley 4/2023)
Trigger AEMET warning of level Orange or Red for adverse weather phenomena, including extreme temperatures
Legal consequence Mandatory adjustment of working conditions, including reduction or change of working hours
Scope of application All outdoor workplaces and workplaces that cannot be closed
Basis for the measure Risk assessment, which must take into account weather conditions, the nature of the activity, and the personal characteristics of the employees

Note: The obligation is tied to the warning level, not to a specific perceived or measured temperature. If Orange or Red applies to your area, the requirement takes effect regardless of whether it is “only” 34 or already 40 degrees at your location.

Who this specifically affects: garden maintenance, pool service, tradespeople

Many German-speaking residents in Mallorca employ staff, either directly or through a service provider, who work outdoors: gardeners, pool cleaners, painters, roofers, removal helpers. The rule from Real Decreto 486/1997 is addressed to employers in relation to their employees – anyone who directly employs staff on a permanent basis (such as a household helper) bears this responsibility directly. Anyone who instead commissions a self-employed gardener or a trade company transfers the practical implementation to that party’s own employer obligations – however, as the client, it is still sensible to be flexible on your own initiative when an Orange or Red warning has been issued, and to reschedule appointments rather than insisting on the original timetable.

If you're looking for a reliable contact for garden or pool work, repairs, or seasonal maintenance, the industry directory for house, garden, and service can help. The guides on gardening in Mallorca and on finding tradespeople in Mallorca also offer guidance on what to look out for regarding contracts and scheduling.

Additionally regulated in individual sectors: The collective bargaining agreement for the construction industry (VII Convenio colectivo general del sector de la construcción, published in the BOE) further specifies the state requirement: at Warning Level Orange or Red, priority should be given to switching to other, non-hazardous activities rather than simply suspending the planned work. Specific percentages, hour counts or catch-up periods are regulated within it, but the exact wording was not available for this research – if in doubt, ask the contracted company directly how they handle heat days.

A rule also applies indoors: office and home office

It's not just outdoor work that's regulated. Real Decreto 486/1997 also prescribes temperature ranges for enclosed workplaces in its Annex III – relevant for anyone working in an office or from home, as well as for businesses with a workshop or warehouse.

Activity Temperature range Humidity
Predominantly sedentary activity (office) 17 to 27 degrees 30 to 70 percent
Light physical work (workshop, warehouse) 14 to 25 degrees 30 to 70 percent

If these values are exceeded, the employer must take countermeasures – for example through air conditioning, better ventilation or adjusted working hours. If you work as an employee in Spain and your workplace is permanently too hot, this is not a matter of goodwill but part of the statutory duty of care – more on this in the guide Working as an Employee on Mallorca.

How to get through a heatwave well yourself

For everyday life, practice matters more than theory. Without claiming medical completeness – more on that below – a few simple, well-established basic rules can help:

  1. Schedule physical exertion, sport and gardening for the cooler times of day, early morning or late evening.
  2. Avoid direct sun, consistently use shade and shading (shutters, awnings, persianas) during the day.
  3. Drink regularly, even without feeling acutely thirsty.
  4. Ventilate living spaces during the cooler hours, keep them closed during the day.
  5. Never leave children, elderly people or pets alone in a parked car – not even for a few minutes.

Note: This list does not replace medical advice. It is deliberately kept general, because reliable figures for fluid intake or temperature limits for individual groups cannot be responsibly generalised here – this depends on age, pre-existing conditions and individual constitution.

Particularly at risk: children, seniors, the chronically ill, pets

Anyone used to heatwaves in Germany tends to underestimate the duration and intensity of the strain on Mallorca, especially in holiday homes without continuous air conditioning. Particular attention is needed for:

Group What to watch out for
Infants and young children Cannot regulate heat well, need shade and sufficient fluids
Older people Often feel thirsty later, so check the home regularly for overheating
People with chronic illnesses Worth consulting your treating doctor if you have cardiovascular or kidney conditions
Pets Never leave them in the car, shift walks to the cooler times of day, always provide water

If you spend the winter on Mallorca or live here permanently as a pensioner, it's worth taking a look at the guides Pensioners on Mallorca and Wintering on Mallorca – these deal more generally with adapting everyday life to the Mediterranean climate all year round.

When it becomes a medical emergency

Heatwaves should always be taken seriously, without treating every warm week as an emergency. Watch for warning signs such as confusion, clouded consciousness, or a sudden stop in sweating in someone who was previously visibly overheated – these call for immediate medical help. When in doubt, it's better to react too early than too late.

Please note: If you suspect a medical emergency related to heat, immediately call the Europe-wide emergency number 112. Don't wait to see if the situation improves on its own.

You'll find information on A&E departments and how to reach medical help on the island in the guide Emergency Room Mallorca, as well as an overview of important numbers in the guide Emergency Numbers Spain.

Most common mistakes during heatwaves

  • Going by a remembered temperature figure instead of the current AEMET warning.
  • As an employer or client, assuming that adjusting working hours during Orange or Red alerts is optional or negotiable.
  • Scheduling outdoor work for midday hours "because that's how it's always been done".
  • Only checking the air conditioning or fan once the heatwave has already arrived.
  • Dismissing warning signs in elderly relatives or pets as "just tired".
  • Leaving children or animals in the car for a quick errand.

What comes next?

After a heatwave, it's worth taking a brief look back rather than jumping straight into everyday life. Clarify with your gardener, pool service, or tradesperson how cancelled or postponed appointments will be handled – the specific arrangement depends on the individual contract or, for sectors with their own collective agreement, on its provisions. Also check whether your home should be better prepared for the next wave: functioning shading, sufficient ventilation options during the cooler hours, an emergency plan for relatives with pre-existing conditions.

Checklist: Well prepared for the next heatwave

  • Regularly check the AEMET warning level for your area, not just the thermometer
  • Discuss in advance with gardener, pool service, or tradespeople how to proceed during Orange or Red alerts
  • Consistently use shutters and shading during the day
  • Ensure drinking water and shade are available for you, your relatives, and your pets
  • Have the emergency number 112 and the nearest A&E department in mind or saved
  • Actively keep an eye on elderly or sick family members during hot spells
  • Never leave anyone or any animal behind in a parked car

Conclusion

A heatwave in Mallorca is nowadays a recurring part of the Mediterranean year – in 2026 with several phases of Orange and Red warning levels. The most important shift in perspective for you as a resident: it's not the perceived or measured temperature at your house that determines whether action is needed, but the warning level issued by AEMET for your area. At Orange or Red level, adjusting working hours for anyone working outdoors for you is not a matter of goodwill but, since 2023, a legal obligation. For yourself, your family members and your pets, meanwhile, the obvious rules apply: shade, fluids, cool times of day – and, if in doubt, call 112 straight away.

Official sources

How can I tell if a dangerous heatwave is currently in effect?
Not by your own thermometer, but by the warning level issued by AEMET for your area. What matters for legal obligations are the levels Orange and Red.
Does my gardener still have to work as planned during Orange warning level?
No. Under Real Decreto 486/1997 in conjunction with Real Decreto-ley 4/2023, the employer is obliged to adapt working conditions, including reducing or rescheduling working hours.
Is there a fixed temperature above which Orange or Red warning level is issued?
No. The thresholds are set individually by AEMET depending on the area and can vary. What always matters is the current warning for your location, not a remembered temperature figure.
Does the obligation to adjust working hours also apply to self-employed people working for me?
The regulation is aimed directly at employers in relation to their employees. If you engage a self-employed tradesperson or a company, the specific implementation falls under their own responsibility as an employer; as the client, however, it's still sensible to be flexible with scheduling.
What temperature requirements apply to the office and home office?
Real Decreto 486/1997 specifies a range of 17 to 27 degrees for predominantly sedentary work and 14 to 25 degrees for light physical work, in each case at a humidity of 30 to 70 percent.
Where can I check current heat warnings for Mallorca?
Directly via the website of the state agency Agencia Estatal de Meteorología, aemet.es. The warning levels for the respective areas of the island are published there.
What should I do if someone shows signs of a heat emergency?
If you notice warning signs such as confusion, impaired consciousness or a lack of sweating, you should seek medical help immediately. In an emergency, dial the Europe-wide number 112.
Do I have to make up working hours lost due to heat at a later date?
This depends on the individual employment or service contract. Certain sectors, such as the construction industry, additionally regulate how weather-related work stoppages are handled through their own collective agreements.