Extreme heat alert across the country today

BarcelonaThis week's episode of intense heat and mugginess will experience a sudden peak this Wednesday. The night has been generally tropical, and scorching in spots along the coast, the south, and at high elevations of the pre-coastal area. And today, the strengthening of the re-heated wind between southwest and west will suddenly send temperatures soaring in many regions, especially along the coast, the pre-coastal area, the Ebro region, and Central Catalonia. Extreme wind and heat that will increase the risk of fire and poor conditions in the forests. It will be a scorching day, with highs reaching or exceeding 40 ºC in many areas of the pre-coastal region, Central Catalonia, Ponent, and the Ebro valley, as well as 35 ºC on the coast. Meteocat has activated the alert for intense heat throughout the country, with a red warning – the highest possible – for the Barcelona pre-coastal area.

The most suffocating day of the week

The peak of temperatures we will have this Wednesday due to the re-heated wind will leave up to 40 ºC or more in unaccustomed areas, such as the coast of Barcelona, the northeast interior and Central Catalonia. Figures that will also be recorded in Ponent and the Ebro interior, where even 42 or 43 ºC can be reached or exceeded. On the coast there will be many values from 31 to 36 ºC, locally higher on the Barcelona coast.

In addition to the suffocating daytime atmosphere, the night has also been very warm, and the next one will also be, with many tropical minimums throughout the territory. Torrid minimums – above 25 ºC – will be repeated in parts of the coast, the south and Ponent. Meteocat has extended the alert for night heat to most counties.

All this with a sky that will remain hazy due to the presence of suspended dust and the passage of some high and medium cloud bands. The wind will blow moderately, with strong gusts in elevated areas, and even very strong and from the south at high altitudes in the Pyrenees. In the afternoon, some mud showers or drizzles are not ruled out in the southern interior of the country.

Thursday the temperature drops

Starting Thursday, we will leave behind Wednesday's scorching peak and temperatures will drop, although it will remain very hot and muggy, with warm nights in many regions. However, 40 ºC will be reached again in Ponent. The thermal descent will continue on Friday and the weekend, but always with values above average.

This third official heatwave is different from the previous one, as it is characterized by a lot of mugginess, suspended dust, and less extreme values than in previous episodes, except for Wednesday. On Thursday, afternoon showers and thunderstorms will increase in parts of the Pyrenees, Pre-Pyrenees, Ports, and nearby areas. However, for now, there is no clear change in the weather pattern that will bring us a significant cool-down or rain.