Heat still intense, but changes at the end of the week

BarcelonaRain has been scarce to see in recent months, but this afternoon showers and storms have arrived in the Terres de l'Ebre, which have quickly spread to more areas of the coast and pre-coast. Notable are the 12 l/m² fallen in Falset (Priorat) or the 11 in Benissanet (Ribera d'Ebre). Small exceptions that should not be repeated in the coming days outside the Pyrenees, but in some cases the storms have been accompanied by strong gusts of wind, a result of so much accumulated heat. This is the case of L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, where gusts close to 120 km/h have been recorded and a possible downburst may have occurred. A sudden and very strong wind that has caused trees to fall and various damages.

The weeks go by, but the meteorological situation is the same: intense heat. And we will continue like this for a few more days. A very warm and muggy Tuesday awaits us, with temperatures above average that, as happened this Monday, can reach 40°C in Ponent and the Ebro valley. Part of the Iberian Peninsula is immersed in a new heatwave that, for the moment, narrowly avoids Catalonia as a whole.

However, the maps are confirming possible changes in the medium term. Everything seems to indicate that between the weekend and next week, thermometers will drop with more enthusiasm, we will breathe much better and the nights will be more comfortable. A situation that we will have to refine in upcoming forecasts, but which would put an end to an extraordinarily suffocating first part of the summer.

Tuesday: few changes

For the moment, this Tuesday will repeat the same script as the last few days. A new suffocating day is expected, with intense heat and humidity. Most of the maximum temperatures will hover between 33 °C and 38 °C in the pre-coastal areas and inland, but they could again be around 40 °C in Ponent and the Ebro valley. Meteocat maintains alerts for intense heat in these areas, and also for nocturnal heat, as the night will again be warm in many regions.

All this with sun combined with the passage of some bands of high and medium clouds, scarcer in the north of the country. In fact, the presence of these clouds can increase the feeling of stuffiness, especially in the Terres de l'Ebre. The dust will also remain suspended, although in the afternoon some local showers are not ruled out in the Pyrenees, especially in the eastern part.

Possible refresh of the view

The heat will remain intense for much of the week, even with a brief warm peak on Thursday, especially in Ponent and Ebre. Therefore, it will be necessary to sweat profusely for a few more days, with generally suffocating and muggy conditions on the coast. No rain is expected either, beyond some local showers in the Pyrenees during the afternoons.

However, different meteorological models are confirming that a change in weather pattern is already looming, which would break the dynamic of calm and extreme heat of recent weeks. From the weekend onwards, thermometers will start to drop due to the arrival of northerly winds and will fully normalize next week.

Therefore, the runaway heat and the North African warm bubble are starting to have their days numbered. It will continue to be hot, but it will be more bearable, and the nights will also be more pleasant. As for rain, no significant episode is in sight at the moment.