First scorching time of the new and long episode of extreme heat

The suffocating heat has returned. Yesterday was a very hot day and temperatures already reached 40°C in Ponent, but this figure was also approached in other inland areas, such as the Pre-Pyrenees. Highlights include the 40.4°C maximum in Lleida or the 39.9°C in Montesquiu (Osona) and Alcarràs (Segrià). And last night was also milder or warmer in general. The official start of the new episode of extreme heat in our region has been given, the umpteenth since the summer began and which will last for several days, at least for a week. As the heat thresholds are very likely to be exceeded for three consecutive days in several counties, this episode is considered a heatwave, especially in the interior of the country.

It should be noted that it will not ultimately be the fourth heatwave in Catalonia, as the validated data provided today by Meteocat have corroborated that the last episode that occurred – that episode in mid-July – despite the suffocating sensation, ultimately did not exceed the thresholds, and it has been decided to remove the heatwave label. Therefore, this will officially be the third of the summer in our region. On the other hand, in the country as a whole, the fourth heatwave of the summer is indeed being experienced.

Today we will have a peak of this episode, with between 41 and 43°C in Ponent. And the next peak is likely to take place between Sunday and the beginning of next week. There are many alerts activated for extreme heat on Thursday in the interior, the Costa Brava, the Pyrenees, the Pre-Pyrenees, and the Barcelona pre-coastal area. Some warnings that will lose extension transiently on Friday.

Thursday: scorching day

Temperatures will rise further and peak this Thursday. The night has been milder or warm in many regions, with tropical lows in more areas away from the coast, and some torrid temperatures near the sea and in the south. As for the highs, most will range between 35 and 40°C in the pre-coastal area, inland, in the valleys of the Pre-Pyrenees and in some areas of the Pyrenees. Suffocating heat in general, but the atmosphere will be even more torrid in Ponent, where 42 or 43°C can be locally reached. On the coast there will be many values from 29 to 34°C, with marked mugginess. All this with sunshine in general, a bit of dust in suspension and a moderate southwesterly wind in the afternoon on the northeast coast.

The heat is relentless

Friday and Saturday the temperatures will drop slightly, but will remain above average and the intense heat will continue. Some afternoon thunderstorms will also reappear in the Pyrenees.

But the maps indicate that between Sunday and at least Tuesday the thermometers would touch a ceiling again, with extreme heat and a new warm peak, especially inland. The 40 °C will be exceeded again in the hottest areas, especially in Ponent. It seems that at the end of next week we will breathe better and instability could increase. In any case, there are still days left and, until then, we will have to sweat it out.