Reacción a "Weather conditions conducive to wildfires have worsened significantly in Spain and France"

The research is based on robust and recognised international datasets, such as the ECMWF’s ERA5 reanalysis and climate data from NOAA. The findings are consistent with global evidence that climate change is leading to weather conditions that are fuelling increasingly extreme wildfires in various parts of the world. It confirms the trends showing that droughts and heatwaves amplify the risk. Furthermore, it expands on existing knowledge by directly linking the interannual variability of fire risk in southern Europe to large-scale climate patterns, specifically the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) and the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO).

Although the researchers themselves point out certain limitations due to a lack of data harmonisation, the reliance on the analytical methods used, and uncertainty regarding the ability of current climate models to predict future changes, the data do indicate that there has been a shift in fire patterns in recent years, requiring new strategies that include prevention. Furthermore, there is a need to explore new predictive systems. Likewise, the study highlights the need for reliable and interoperable data.

The implications are critical, as the Iberian Peninsula, and Spain in particular, is the most severely affected region, accounting for a high percentage of the area burnt in southern Europe during the catastrophic 2025 season and the trends observed in 2026.