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

BarcelonaTemperatures dropped this Tuesday in Ponent, 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, but not reaching the record-breaking levels of Monday, when we experienced the peak of the second heat wave of the summer (you'll find the full data). This extreme episode officially ends today, according to Meteocat. Between Wednesday and Thursday, we will continue to lose a few degrees in the west and north of the country, with no new warnings for intense heat. However, near the sea, there will be little change, and nights will remain heavy in many regions.

In the afternoons, there will be repeated showers and thunderstorms in parts of the Pyrenees, the Pre-Pyrenees, and the mountain passes, which may also reach some inland areas. In fact, the most extensive and heaviest downpours occurred today, with some incidents in the Ponent region. 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 bout of extreme heat will begin, extending into next week. It probably won't be for another seven or eight days until a clear refreshment arrives.

Wednesday: heat without great extremes

Temperatures will drop slightly further this Wednesday, although not everywhere, and the atmosphere will remain very warm. The night will once again be heavy and tropical in many regions, and the coast will see repeated torrid lows—over 25°C—especially in the city of Barcelona. Highs will drop a few degrees further in the 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, with most highs between 32°C and 38°C across the country.

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 possible along the coast. There will still be some instability, which will lead to the growth of afternoon clouds that will leave irregular showers and thunderstorms in parts of the Pyrenees, the Pre-Pyrenees, the Ports, and inland Valencia.

Some more isolated storms may also arrive in areas of 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 heat peak in sight

On Thursday, temperatures will drop further in the north of the country, while there will be little change in the rest of the regions. But starting Friday, thermometers will rise again, and a new peak of extreme heat will begin, bringing the 40°C mark back to the West and the Ebro Valley.

The maps insist that during the second half of next week, a cooling down will arrive, putting an end to the extreme and persistent heat of this first half of August. Until then, we'll have to sweat it out, 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

Today has continued to be very hot, with temperatures reaching 40°C again in parts of Ponent, the interior of the Ebro River, and the Tremp basin. Temperatures have 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 yesterday. For example, in Vinebre (Ribera d'Ebre), an extraordinary 43.8°C was recorded on Monday, and today's high was just 40°C. These are the highest highs this 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 yesterday, 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.