Less extreme heat for a few days, but a new torrid peak is in sight

BarcelonaTemperatures dropped yesterday, Tuesday, in the West, the Ebro River, and the Valencian Community. It was another day of very intense heat everywhere, with temperatures once again reaching or slightly exceeding 40°C in the hottest areas. However, the record highs and exorbitant values of Monday, when we experienced the peak of the second heat wave of the summer (you'll find the roundup of the most important data below), were no longer recorded. This heat wave officially ended yesterday, but will flare up again in the coming days, according to Meteocat. Between today and Thursday, we'll continue to lose a few degrees in the west and north of the country, with no new heat warnings. However, there will be little change near the sea, where nights will remain heavy.

In the afternoons, there will be repeated showers and storms in parts of the Pyrenees, the Pre-Pyrenees, and the mountain passes, and they may also reach some inland areas. In fact, yesterday there were strong thunderstorms in the West and in the Pyrenees and Pre-Pyrenees, as well as in nearby areas, even with some incidents. Of note were 34 l/m² in Oliola, 16 in El Pont de Suert and Alinyà, and 11 in Vilanova de Segrià and Baldomar. Starting Friday, it will no longer rain anywhere, and temperatures will rise again. A new period of extreme heat will begin, lasting until early next week. In fact, Meteocat has already issued intense heat alerts, especially on the central coast, starting this Thursday. It probably won't be for another seven or eight days until a clear refreshment arrives.

Wednesday: intense heat without major extremes

Temperatures will drop slightly further this Wednesday, although not everywhere, and the atmosphere will remain very warm. The night has once again been heavy and tropical in many regions, especially on the coast, where some torrid lows (over 25°C) have been recorded, primarily in the city of Barcelona. However, lows have dropped inland, where it has been easier to sleep and breathe in the early hours compared to recent nights. Highs will fall a few degrees further west, especially in the Lleida region. It will be more difficult to reach 40°C in this area, although the heat will remain intense. Elsewhere, there will be little change or a slight rise in the mercury on the Costa Brava, with most highs between 32°C and 38°C across the region.

As for the sky, the sun will dominate in the morning, with the exception of some harmless bands of high, thin clouds. Some low morning clouds are also not ruled out on the coast. There will still be some instability, which will lead to the growth of afternoon clouds, leaving irregular showers and thunderstorms in parts of the Pyrenees, the Pre-Pyrenees, the mountain passes, and inland Valencia.

Some more isolated ones are also not ruled out between Ponent and Central Catalonia and in the pre-coastal mountains. Some storms may be locally strong and accompanied by wind and hail. Where it ends up raining, the temperature will drop a few degrees suddenly.

New peak of heat wave in sight

On Thursday, temperatures will drop further in the north of the country, but in the south and along the central coast and pre-coast, the mercury will rise further, where new heat warnings have been issued. In the following days, temperatures will rise even further, and we will experience a new peak of extreme heat that will see the reappearance of 40°C in the West and the Ebro Valley. This will be the continuation of the heat wave, which will last at least until next Monday.

The maps insist that during the second half of next week, a cooling off period will arrive, putting an end to the extreme and persistent heat of this first half of August. Until then, we will have to sweat profusely, with plenty of sunshine and fewer afternoon showers. The change in weather next week could bring renewed precipitation to several regions, a situation that remains to be confirmed.

Heat wave balance

Yesterday, Tuesday, the very hot weather continued, reaching 40°C again in parts of Ponent, the interior of the Ebro River, and the Tremp basin. Temperatures exceeded 37°C or 38°C in other parts of the interior and on the Girona coast. These values are well above average, but in the western half of the country they were lower than on Monday, when the peak of the heat was experienced. For example, in Vinebre (Ribera d'Ebre), an extraordinary 43.8°C was recorded on Monday, and yesterday the maximum was 40°C. These are the highest maximum temperatures on Tuesday:

• 40.7°C: Albesa
• 40.6 °C: Lleida - la Femosa
• 40.5 °C: Baldomar
• 40.5 °C: Seròs
• 40.4 °C: Alcarràs
• 40.4 °C: Vilanova de Segrià
• 40.2 °C: Oliola
• 40.2 °C: Mollerussa
• 40.2 °C: Tempering
• 40.1 °C: Vinebre
• 39.9 °C: Almadraba de Seana

Temperatures reached their peak on Monday, at the height of the second heat wave of the summer in our country. They surpassed the levels reached during the first, which occurred in late June and early July. For the first time this year, temperatures have exceeded 43°C in Catalonia, specifically in Vinebre (Ribera d'Ebre), where the 43.8°C recorded yesterday afternoon is not only the highest high of the summer so far in our country, but also the absolute heat record in the 27 years of data from this Mete meteorological station. Four other stations with more than 20 years of official data broke their own heat records.

If it weren't for the extraordinary, torrid peak of July 2023 in Alt Empordà, which set a new absolute heat record in Catalonia – with 45.4°C in Figueres – yesterday would have equaled the record previously held in 2019 in Alcarràs. In any case, the 43.8°C recorded in Vinebre is one of the highest values on record.

40°C was also reached or exceeded in many inland areas of Terres de l'Ebre and Ponent. Furthermore, most highs ranged between 36°C and 39°C in the rest of the pre-coastal and inland areas, while on the coast, temperatures far exceeded 30°C in many cases. Southwestern France is also notable, with several heat records broken yesterday. These are the highest highs of a sweltering Monday in Catalonia:

• 43.8 °C: Vinebre (Record)
• 42.4 °C: the Masroig
• 42.3 °C: Ribarroja Reservoir
• 42.2 °C: Ascó (Record)
• 41.8 °C: Torres de Segre
• 41.8 °C: Lleida - la Femosa
• 41.7 °C: Aldover
• 41.7 °C: Torroja del Priorat
• 41.6 °C: Flails
• 41.6 °C: Tempering
• 41.6 °C: Albesa
• 41.5 °C: the Soleràs
• 41.2 °C: Batea (Record)
• 40.4 °C: San Juan Orchard (Record)
• 40 °C: La Seu d'Urgell (Record)

Temperatures have been rising since last week, with very intense and truly scorching heat. The first 40°C of this episode were reached this weekend, clearly above average. Below is a graph showing temperature trends over the past few days across Catalonia and in some specific municipalities.