Dominion of sun and heat before the warm peak of the episode

BarcelonaThe mass of warm air over the Iberian Peninsula has for days been leaving us an atmosphere more typical of early July than May, but this week it will reach its peak, with a warm spell that will leave values approaching 38 °C in western Catalonia and transport us directly to August. All this, moreover, with many hours of very intense sun that will only be disturbed by the presence of some afternoon clouds in the Pyrenees. At the end of this information you will find a summary of this heatwave and a comparison with the usual temperature at the end of May, far from current records.

Tuesday: no changes

The week will advance with weather similar to Monday's, marked by the presence of sun which will continue to contribute to very unusual temperature values in the middle of May. During the early morning and first hour of the morning, the exception will be found in the Ebro Delta, where fog banks will form and quickly dissipate with the sun's warmth. Midday and afternoon will again be like summer, with highs of 30 °C to 35 °C inland, more moderated on the coast.

Wednesday: thermal rise

It will be towards Wednesday when the temperature will rise again with force, after a Tuesday of thermal stability. The mercury will rise everywhere, especially inland, and it will reach 35 °C or 36 °C in Ponent and exceed 30 °C throughout the interior and in some coastal areas. Very warm weather, still with little humidity, and growth of some afternoon clouds in the Pyrenean regions.

More heat mid-week, with highs in Ponent up to 38 °C

The latest maps from the different weather models indicate that the heat could even peak mid-week, with maximums of up to 37 °C or 38 °C in Ponent. Heat records will likely not be broken, as we are coming from very warm recent months of May. But we will have to see if the persistence of the heatwave becomes extraordinary, as we are talking about many consecutive days with values well above average.

Remember that with this heat, you should seek shade and protect yourself with sunscreen, as the sun can burn our skin very easily at this time of year. The radiation is as intense as in July, so you should use sun protection for your skin and a hat if you have to be exposed to the sun for a long time.

Summary of an exceptional heatwave

The temperature we have been recording for days is exceptional, both for the positive anomaly it represents with respect to normal values and for the persistence of the heat, which has already lasted many days and still has a long way to go. For now, the maximums of last Friday stand out, with 36.1 °C in Seròs, 35.8 °C in Alcarràs and 35.6 °C in Alfarràs.