Between two heatwaves: we take advantage of the brief respite

The drop in temperatures has been evident since the beginning of July in a large part of the country, especially at night. Today, first thing in the morning, we again have luxurious conditions, with minimums that have dropped below 15°C in inland areas and below 10°C in the Pyrenees. Only tropical minimums have been recorded again on the coast, in the Ebro region and in Empordà, even some torrid ones in Empordà due to the heated tramuntana wind. All this after yesterday the heat was moderate, with the exception of the central and southern pre-coastal areas, the Camp de Tarragona, and the northeastern interior, where the heated wind caused thermometers to climb to 35 or 36°C, locally more. For example, 37.5°C in Aldover (Ribera d'Ebre), over 36°C maximum in Sant Salvador de Guardiola, Tarragona and Cambrils, or 35°C in Terrassa (Vallès Occidental).

But this slight respite that temperatures are giving us will not last long, as from the weekend and during the coming week the heat will skyrocket again and be extreme, when we had not yet recovered from the previous episode. Meteocat has already issued a pre-warning for the second heatwave of the little we have had of summer, from Sunday until at least next Wednesday.

Friday: still moderate heat

Temperatures will rise a little more, both day and night. However, we have slept very well again in most regions, with tropical lows concentrated only on the coast, as well as in Empordà due to the effect of the reheated tramuntana wind, where some local torrid minimums have occurred. Most maximums will range between 31 and 36°C, but towards Ponent and the Ebro valley they will already be between 36 and 38°C, with perhaps some cases of 39°C. They will remain below 30°C in the Pyrenees. Meteocat maintains the alert activated for daytime heat between Garraf and Montsià, where 35°C can be reached or exceeded again.

A warm, mid-summer day, but still far from the extremes of a heatwave. Overall, there will still be a north wind at the extremes, although in the afternoon only the Tramuntana will remain in Empordà. Radiant sun will dominate everywhere without exception.

Waiting for the heatwave

On Saturday, temperatures will remain similar to Friday's or rise slightly. It will be from Sunday that the mercury will really shoot up, and even more so at the beginning of next week. That's when we will experience the second heatwave of the summer, with many highs of 35 to 40°C, higher in the most torrid areas of the interior, especially in Ponent and the Ebro valley.

On the coast, temperatures will also exceed 30°C and there will be a lot of mugginess during this episode. At the same time, heavy and restless nights will also return to many regions. Extreme heat will also spread again to more areas of central and western Europe, as the anticyclone and the puff of very warm North African air will strengthen once more. We will have to closely follow this situation to see the extent of this new heatwave, as the previous one left many records across the continent.