On the verge of the first heat wave of the year (yes, the first)

BarcelonaIf we've been sweating hard throughout June, let's prepare for the longest and harshest bout of extreme heat to come. In the coming days, a new subtropical anticyclone will hit us, bringing sustained, very warm air from North Africa with a higher pulse in suspension. All of this will result in the first heat wave of the year in various regions and also across much of the Iberian Peninsula.

Temperatures dropped slightly on Thursday after reaching 40°C in some places in recent days, breaking some heat records. This relative respite will not continue, as starting Friday and especially over the weekend, temperatures will rise sharply again, initiating a long bout of very intense heat that will last at least until Tuesday.

In Catalonia, the heat wave will primarily affect the Ponent area and the interior of the Ebro, where sustained highs of between 39°C and 42°C will be reached over the next few days. Meteocat has already activated a heat wave alert in several regions in these areas starting Saturday.

Other inland or pre-coastal areas will also record extreme temperatures for several consecutive days, such as the Tremp basin, Priorat, the Bages plain, and points in the northeast interior. However, temperatures will likely not reach the threshold uniformly across the country, as this episode is considered a heat wave in all regions.

In any case, the atmosphere will be very warm everywhere. The hottest days are expected, especially between Sunday and Tuesday, with many highs between 35°C and 40°C. Lower temperatures will only remain on the coast and in mountainous areas. Inland temperatures in the Valencian Community will also exceed 37°C or 38°C, and on the island of Mallorca, 35°C. A heat wave that will be accompanied by sunshine, intense muggy conditions on the coast, and sleepless nights, with tropical or torrid lows in many places.

Aemet has also issued a heat wave warning for virtually the entire state. The event will primarily affect central and southern Spain and Portugal, and especially the southwestern interior of the peninsula, where temperatures could occasionally reach 45°C. Extreme heat will also be expected in much of France and other areas of central and western Europe.

Why hasn't there been talk of a heat wave until now?

Since the end of May, temperatures have been soaring and clearly above average. So, if we've been sweating profusely for weeks and some records have been set, how is it possible that until now there hasn't been talk of a heat wave? The reason lies in technical terms.

Meteocat bases its intense heat warnings on a specific heat threshold for each region, compiled from the maximum temperatures recorded each day during the months of June, July, and August over the last ten years. From this, the temperature that has only been reached 2% of times in the last decade is extracted, and this figure will set the heat threshold for each area. If this value is reached only one or two days, it is called heat or peak heat, as has been the case in recent weeks. But if it is exceeded for at least three consecutive days, it is considered a heat wave. As will be the case in some regions in the coming days.