The Fabra Observatory exceeds 40 ºC and breaks its heat record in 113 years of data

The heatwave's peak continues to shatter records. The most notable is what was reached at the Fabra observatory in Barcelona, where temperatures exceeded 40 ºC and the absolute heat record, which had been in place since July 2024 at this location, was broken. Specifically, 40.8 ºC were provisionally reached at the Fabra station of the Royal Academy of Sciences and Arts of Barcelona (RACAB), and 40.5 ºC were confirmed at the Meteocat station. This is a figure that stands out particularly because in the more than 113 years of records at this observatory, such figures have never been reached.

All this after a scorching minimum was registered last night - above 30 ºC - at the Meteocat station located in Portbou (Alt Empordà), where the reheated tramuntana wind prevented the thermometer from dropping below 31.9 ºC throughout the night, an extraordinary figure that represents a new record for a warm night in Catalonia since records began, surpassing the 31.2 ºC recorded on June 28, 2019, at the Fabra Observatory in Barcelona, and the 30.3 ºC recorded at the same Portbou station on August 21, 2023.

The heat has intensified even further in recent hours. Yesterday, inland, maximum temperatures exceeded 43 ºC for the first time this year in regions such as Ribera d'Ebre or Priorat. Notable figures include 43.7 ºC in Vinebre, 43.3 ºC at the Riba-roja reservoir, and 43.2 ºC in Torroja del Priorat. 43 ºC was also reached in Ponent, for example, in the city of Lleida. Meanwhile, in the rest of the pre-littoral and inland areas, maximum temperatures ranged between 36 ºC and 41 ºC. The heat has been so extreme that absolute records have been achieved at six Meteocat meteorological stations with over twenty years of data, located in Ribera d'Ebre, Priorat, Segrià, and Pla d'Urgell.

The third day of the heatwave has been, for the moment, the warmest of the year so far across the country. The episode will experience a peak this Wednesday, with many maximums nearing or around 40°C inland and in the northeast, and exceeding 42 or 43°C in Ponent and the Ebro valley.

Meteocat has placed the entire country on alert for extreme heat this Wednesday, with a red alert – the highest possible – in Ponent, Terres de l'Ebre, and a large part of the counties of Girona and the coast and pre-coast of Barcelona. The heatwave will be extraordinarily long, as, despite a slight drop over the weekend, it will strengthen again next week.

Wednesday: maximum heat alert

Temperatures will rise more, both day and night. The night has been tropical quite generally, and torrid minimums have been repeated in coastal spots. Meteocat has alerts activated for nighttime heat in several counties of the coast and pre-coast and in Ponent, both today and tomorrow.

Watch out for the maximums, as in many cases they will reach their peak. In fact, in the northeast and in parts of the coast and pre-coast, the temperature will soar due to the re-heated south wind. A torrid and suffocating day is expected, with many maximums of 37 to 42°C in the interior, on the pre-coast and on the coast. Therefore, the figure of 40°C will be reached in many places, and even in Ponent and the Ebro, 43°C can be reached or exceeded, locally 44°C.

All this with radiant sun and anticyclonic calm. However, in the afternoon, clouds will grow more eagerly in mountainous areas, due to the same heat. Irregular afternoon showers are expected in parts of the Pyrenees and pre-Pyrenees, especially the western ones. In addition, remnants of afternoon thunderstorms from the Iberian system will arrive, leaving some downpour in the Ports and possible dry thunderstorms in Ponent, with strong gusts of wind without rain. A very adverse phenomenon with the high risk of fire we have; therefore, much caution will be needed. In the rest, the sea breeze will dominate, strengthening with moderate gusts.

Very long heatwave

Between Thursday and Friday it will continue to be very hot, but we will lose a few degrees. A slight decrease that will not prevent new suffocating days. On the weekend, the heat will be less extreme, but it will be a slight and temporary decrease, as next week will start with a new peak of the North African warm gust that will bring us a new peak of this heatwave.

A very long episode that will also continue to affect a large part of the Iberian Peninsula and other parts of Western Europe. It would not be until the end of next week that we could breathe better, but with few options for rain in sight for the moment.