Intense heat alerts return for many days
Temperatures will again reach or exceed 40 ºC in the hottest areas of the country
BarcelonaThe thermometers began to rise this Tuesday. After a night that was still between cool and mild in most of the country, the heat was more intense in the middle of the day, although still without extremes. Temperatures have already exceeded 38 ºC in Ponent, as well as 37 ºC in the Pre-Pyrenees and other inland locations. It will be from this Wednesday when the thermometers will soar more and 40 ºC can already be reached in Ponent. Meteocat has already issued the first warnings for intense heat on Wednesday and Thursday in the regions of Lleida, the Pyrenees, and the Pre-Pyrenees. This new episode of extreme heat will last at least until the middle of next week, and will probably become the fourth heatwave of the summer in Catalonia.
A situation that will make the risk of fire higher and that is the result of a new influx of very warm air from North Africa, which will once again embrace southern and central Europe. Temperatures at an altitude of 1,500 m will climb in the coming days to 25 ºC or more, with values between 5 and 10 degrees above average on the surface in many regions. Aemet has issued a heatwave alert in Spain, while countries like France or the Benelux will experience the umpteenth heatwave of a summer that offers no respite to the old continent. All this with more dust in suspension, anticyclonic calm, and little rain in sight.
Wednesday: extreme heat returns
Temperatures will rise more this Wednesday, both day and night. The night will no longer be so cool, with tropical values again near the sea and in the south. And in the middle of the day the heat will be intense, with extreme values in the west of the country. Many maximums of 33 ºC to 38 ºC are expected in the pre-littoral and inland areas, but values of 40 ºC can already be reached or slightly exceeded in Ponent.
A suffocating day with temperatures above average and more mugginess on the coast. All this with radiant sun and few nuances. Only some low coastal cloud may appear early in the morning, or some afternoon cloudiness in the Pyrenees which, at most, will leave some isolated shower between the north of Ripollès, Cerdanya and Capcir.
Possible heatwave
Temperatures will remain very high in the coming days, and between the weekend and the beginning of next week they will reach their peak. It is very likely that heat thresholds will be exceeded for three consecutive days or more, especially in inland regions. Therefore, we are very likely facing the fourth heatwave of the summer in Catalonia, according to Meteocat itself.
Beyond some local afternoon showers in the Pyrenees, no rain is expected in the medium term, with a considerable increase in suspended African dust. Maps extend this new episode of extreme North African heat until at least mid-next week, already into August.