Minor changes today after yesterday's record-breaking heatwave

BarcelonaYesterday was a very hot, spring-like day, with maximum temperatures significantly higher than usual for this time of year, rising above 20°C in much of the country. Locally, temperatures exceeded 25°C, and even record highs for February were registered at three Meteocat weather stations with over twenty years of data. Specifically, these stations are located in Montserrat, Batea (Terra Alta), and Benissanet (Ribera d'Ebre). The highest temperature of the day in all of Catalonia was recorded in Benissanet, reaching 26.4°C.

Looking ahead to Wednesday, the anticyclone will remain, but some minor, temporary changes are expected. Light winds from the sea will blow inland, bringing increased humidity and leading to more frequent low cloud cover and fog along the coast and pre-coastal areas. This much cooler breeze—since the sea water is still quite cold—will lower temperatures, resulting in cooler midday weather. However, the overall mild and sunny conditions will persist over the next few days. A suspended African air mass will arrive by the end of the week, and more significant changes could occur next week.

Wednesday: Changes on the coast

The weather will be very calm again today, but the arrival of damp sea breezes will bring some changes. Cloud cover and fog will increase along parts of the coast and pre-coastal areas, while temperatures will drop further, especially along the coast and in the pre-coastal areas. However, sunshine will prevail in most regions, with only a few wisps of thin clouds passing through. The mild conditions will continue, but temperatures won't be as extreme as on Tuesday. Many will see highs of 17°C to 22°C, locally higher in the south. Once again this morning, we have a marked temperature inversion, with significantly colder temperatures at lower elevations than at higher elevations. For example, Montserrat will start the day with 14°C, while right next door, in Vacarisses (Vallès Occidental), it's only 1°C.

Pulse in suspension and changes many days ahead

In the coming days, sunshine and calm weather will once again be the main features, with mild middays, though not as hot as this Tuesday. The new development will be the arrival of suspended dust from North Africa, driven by southerly winds. Therefore, throughout the second half of the week, the sky will be more hazy or dusty.

Looking ahead to the weekend, a front will brush the Pyrenees, but beyond a few showers on the northern slopes, no precipitation is expected anywhere. The weather maps indicate that next week could bring more significant changes, with increased instability and the retreat of the anticyclone. But there are still many days to go, and everything remains very uncertain.