Countdown to the return of extreme heat

BarcelonaThe week has begun with quite bearable heat and pleasant nights. Yesterday, the highest temperatures hovered around or slightly exceeded 35 ºC inland. Although it may seem like a break from the intense heat, just a decade ago, the values reached this Monday were typical of a summer heatwave day. But this respite will be short-lived, as temperatures will rise considerably in the coming days. Today we will already add a few degrees, but it will be mainly from Wednesday onwards that thermometers will once again soar above average.

Therefore, we are on the verge of a new episode of intense and extreme heat, with up to 40 ºC or more towards the west and the Ebro valley. As this situation will last for several days – at least until Monday of next week – Meteocat warns that it cannot be ruled out that it corresponds to the fourth heatwave of the summer in some counties. This new incursion of very warm air and the North African anticyclone will once again embrace part of the European continent. In the country as a whole and in countries like France, the situation is already being classified as a heatwave. And all this with more suspended dust and no rain in sight.

Tuesday: temperature rises

Thermometers will take a step forward this Tuesday. The night has been between cool and mild overall, with a still luxurious nighttime atmosphere in many regions, but tropical minimums have recurred in parts of the coast and the south. Maximum temperatures will rise especially in the Pyrenees, inland, and in the northeast, with more heat but still not reaching extremes. Most values will range between 32 and 37 ºC in the pre-coastal areas and inland, but these figures could be exceeded in Ponent.

All this with absolute calm and radiant sunshine everywhere. The north wind will disappear completely from the extremities of the country, and the anticyclonic ridge will embrace us. Despite some afternoon clouds in the Pyrenees, no showers are expected anywhere.

Unbridled heat in the coming days

Starting Wednesday, the heat will be extreme again. Temperatures will exceed 35 ºC in various inland and pre-coastal areas, while in Ponent, 40 ºC can already be reached or exceeded. Meteocat has already issued the first warnings for intense heat in several counties of Lleida for Wednesday, warning that this episode could lead to the fourth heatwave of the summer in inland areas.

A heatwave that will peak during the second part of the week, with a very warm atmosphere everywhere and marked mugginess on the coast. Nights will also become increasingly warmer. France and the Benelux countries will also suffer extremely high temperatures for the umpteenth time this summer. A situation that will not help at all to extinguish the serious fires that are active in Spain and France, for example. All this without rain in sight, beyond some afternoon showers in the middle of the week in the Pyrenees.