canícula

Canícula describes the period of the hottest months in Mediterranean and semi‑arid climates, generally occurring in June and July in the Northern Hemisphere and December and January in the Southern Hemisphere. The term originates from the Latin *canicula*, meaning “little dog”, and comes from an ancient tradition that the star Sirius, the Dog Star, rises in the early summer, coinciding with the onset of extreme temperatures. Astronomers of antiquity used *Canicula* to denote the sun’s heightened heat in this season.

During a canícula, temperatures frequently exceed 30 °C (86 °F), while relative humidity drops and wind speeds often increase, producing intense heat stress for humans, livestock, crops, and natural ecosystems. The phenomenon can be distinguished from the broader heatwave by its duration and its typical alignment with the summer solstice. In many Mediterranean societies, the canícula signals the beginning of agricultural activities such as sowing and harvesting, as well as a heightened risk of wildfires.

Climatological studies have linked the intensity of the canícula to the North Atlantic Oscillation and to large‑scale sea‑surface temperature patterns. Recent observations suggest an amplification of canícula events in the context of global warming, with higher frequency and longer duration compared to the pre‑industrial baseline. The term is used in both scientific literature and popular press in Spanish‑speaking regions, and it remains a key descriptor in local meteorological forecasting.