Heat becoming less extreme, awaiting cooling

Yesterday, temperatures again exceeded 40°C in the hottest areas of the southern interior of the country, with temperatures exceeding 42°C in Vinebre (Ribera d'Ebre) standing out. Strong afternoon thunderstorms also repeated in some inland regions and in the north of the country, with a marked cooling off where it rained (you'll find all the data on yesterday's heat and rainfall at the end of this report). And this Thursday will see a repeat of this trend, with sunshine in the morning and new intense afternoon thunderstorms inland. Temperatures will drop slightly, except on the coast, but the heat will still remain intense and stifling. As the days go by, we'll leave the most extreme temperatures behind, and between the weekend and the beginning of next week, the cooling off will be marked and widespread. We're almost there until we can breathe easier.

Thursday: heat and storms

The night has once again been tropical in many places, especially near the sea, where some torrid lows above 25°C have been recorded, such as in the cities of Barcelona, ​​Tarragona, and Roses. However, the weather has been cooler in inland areas and the Pyrenees, where it rained yesterday. During the day, it will once again be very hot, but temperatures will drop slightly inland. Many highs will range between 32°C and 38°C, and it will be more difficult to reach 40°C in the south of the country, although they will still be reached. This change will not be noticeable on the coast and in the pre-coastal areas, with highs of 29°C to 33°C and marked muggy conditions.

All with sun in the morning and new clouds in the afternoon, bringing more showers and irregular thunderstorms, mainly in parts of the Pyrenees, the Pre-Pyrenees, central Catalonia, and some regions of Western Catalonia. Gusts of wind, hail, or hail are expected. Meteocat has activated a warning for heavy rain in many regions.

Waiting for the refreshment

On Friday, temperatures will show little change, with repeated nights of poor sleep. And on Saturday, they will drop slightly further, with renewed afternoon showers in the north and inland areas every day. It will be especially between Sunday and the beginning of next week that the cooling off will be evident everywhere. The heat will be much more bearable and breathable during the day, while the nights will become comfortable. A change that will finally put the heat wave behind us. Furthermore, showers could gain ground.

Heat and storms on Wednesday

The heat remained intense yesterday, Wednesday, once again exceeding 40°C in the interior of the Terres de l'Ebre region and in Priorat. Once again, the highest maximum temperature was recorded in Vinebre (Ribera d'Ebre), with 42.6°C. The afternoon storms were not as widespread or intense as yesterday's, but they once again affected several points inland and in the north of the country. Accumulated rainfall was between 1 and 10 l/m² in most cases, but locally higher, as in Espot (Pallars Sobirà), with 17 l/m², or in Vilanova de Meià (Noguera), with 15 l/m². These are the highest maximum temperatures on Wednesday:

• 42.6°C: Vinebre
• 41.5 ºC: Ribarroja Reservoir
• 40.3 ºC: Benissanet and El Masroig
• 40.3 ºC: Tortosa (Roquetas)
• 40.2 ºC: Batea
• 40.1 ºC: Torroja del Priorat
• 40 ºC: Ascó
• 39.8 ºC: Aldover and Alcarràs
• 39.7 ºC: Siurana Reservoir
• 39.4 ºC: Lleida (Aemet)