The Meteocat activates a pre-warning for a new heatwave starting Sunday

The Meteorological Service of Catalonia (Meteocat) has issued a notice for the second heatwave of the short summer we've had starting Sunday and until at least Wednesday of next week. The subtropical anticyclone and the warm air mass from North Africa will once again fully affect southwestern Europe, which will send thermometers soaring and make the heat extreme again, with many highs from 30 to 40 ºC, higher in the hottest inland areas, mugginess and over 30 ºC on the coast and new sleepless nights in many regions. A situation that will affect more areas, especially in southwestern Europe.

Until then, let's take advantage of the slight cooling we've had in the last few hours. Temperatures have dropped coinciding with the start of July, thanks to the entry of cooler north wind. Tonight has been cooler and very breathable in general, and even a jacket was needed early on in parts of the Pyrenees, where the minimum temperature dropped below 10 ºC. Only on the coast, in Empordà and Ebre, were tropical minimums repeated, but no longer torrid.

Yesterday it was summer heat, but it was more moderate. Most values ranged between 30 and 35 ºC, nothing like the almost 40 ºC of Tuesday. But the exception was the coast of Tarragona, where the reheated wind caused a warm peak. Highlights include the 36.4 ºC reached in the city of Tarragona. Today the maximums will start to rise, although still without major extremes, and the next night will be comfortable again. It will be from the weekend when the heat becomes more suffocating, especially on Sunday.

Thursday: heat without extremes

The night has been cooler than the previous one on the pre-coastal areas, inland and in the Pyrenees, with lows below 20 °C. It has even dropped below 15 ºC in several inland counties, and below 10 ºC in the Pyrenees. A much cooler and more comfortable night atmosphere in a large part of the country. On the other hand, tropical lows have been repeated on the coast, as well as in the Ebro and especially in Empordà, due to the effect of the re-heated tramuntana wind. However, no torrid low has been repeated anywhere. Maximums will rise slightly, except in the Pyrenees and on the southern coast, where they may drop slightly. Many values will range between 31 and 36 °C, also on the coast of Tarragona. Lower values in mountainous areas and in sections of the central and northern coast.

All in all with sun and calm, as the afternoon showers will disappear completely in the north of the country. The exception will be the north wind, which will remain at the extremes. The mistral will blow until midday in the Ebro, and the tramuntana will remain all day in the north, with rough seas on the Costa Brava.

Extreme heat will return in the coming days

Friday and Saturday the temperatures will remain similar to Thursday's and will rise slightly, both day and night. It will be during the weekend, and especially Sunday, when the heatwave will intensify again. The anticyclone, which had moved back a little, will affect us fully again, and the warm North African air will strengthen.

Therefore, the mix of stagnant intense heat and a lot of solar radiation will cause a new episode of extreme heat in our area, but also throughout the Iberian Peninsula – especially the western half – and part of Western Europe.

With the current maps, temperatures will again reach or exceed 40 °C for several days in the hottest areas of the country. Extreme heat thresholds will be exceeded for at least three consecutive days, especially inland, which is why this episode is already considered the second heatwave of the summer. Values between 5 and 8 degrees above average are expected, considering that we are in the hottest time of the year.