Maximum alert in the coming days for the peak of the heatwave

The week has started with suffocating weather, and in some places yesterday was the hottest day of the summer so far, with values similar to those recorded on June 22nd, when the first heatwave occurred. We've had two heavier nights of sleep, especially on the coast, pre-coast, and in the south, with many tropical and some torrid minimums, especially in coastal stretches and in the north of Alt Empordà. Yesterday the maximums already made a significant leap forward and were around 40 ºC in many inland areas, especially in the south and Ponent. Notable were the almost 42 ºC maximum in Vinebre (Ribera d’Ebre) or the 41 in Lleida, and even on the pre-coast of Barcelona they approached 40 ºC, with up to 39.2 ºC in Vallirana (Baix Llobregat). A situation of persistent extreme heat that facilitated the generation of simultaneous fires. The meteorological conditions have improved during the night and have helped to advance favorably in the extinction tasks, with a drop in temperature and less wind.

Temperatures that will rise even more in the coming days, with torrid weather that will peak especially between Wednesday and Thursday. 40 ºC will be reached or exceeded in several inland and pre-coastal points. Meteocat extends alerts for intense heat throughout the country, with red danger warnings (the maximum possible) in various parts of the country. At the end of the week the mercury will drop, but slowly and with values still very much above the usual for a large part of July.

Tuesday: runaway heat

Nighttime temperatures have been similar or have dropped slightly, but have risen in high areas, as the thermal inversion has intensified. Tropical minimums have been repeated in many places, especially on the coast, pre-coast, west, and south, with values again torrid – above 25 ºC – in coastal stretches. And maximums will also rise more, especially inland. Many values between 35 and 40 ºC are expected in the pre-coast and inland, higher in the west and the Ebro valley, and between 31 and 36 ºC on the coast, with marked sultriness in some stretches.

A stuffy day that will generally be accompanied by sun and calm. In the afternoon, clouds will grow in the Pyrenees which, at most, may leave some very isolated and weak drizzle or shower, as overall it should not rain. In the interior of the Valencian Country, it will be easier for afternoon showers to fall.

Extreme heat for days

The extreme heat will not relent and has staying power for days, with a peak expected between Wednesday and Thursday. It will then likely be when the highest maximums of this episode are reached, with values of 42 to 44 ºC in Ponent and the Ebro valley. We will see if any records are broken.

Complicated days are expected regarding heat and fire risk, with a torrid atmosphere and sleepless nights. A second heatwave of the summer that will also strongly hit other areas of Western Europe, especially the Iberian Peninsula and France, where 40 ºC will be exceeded again by far.

Although from the weekend onwards the thermometers will start to drop, they will do so very slowly, and we will be coming from so high up that we will continue with soaring values above average. We will remain under the effects of the subtropical anticyclone and the puff of warm North African air. In fact, this situation could extend beyond the middle of the month. Therefore, we will have to keep sweating profusely when we haven't even reached the summer dog days yet.