Notable stuffiness on the coast with highs of up to 40 ºC in Ponent and Ebre

BarcelonaThe heat will still be intense, especially in the interior of the country, where it will exceed 39°C again and could reach up to 40°C in the Lleida plain and the interior of the Ebro valley (and we will already have more than twenty days with such extreme values). The meteorological situation offers no respite regarding temperature due to the warm air mass from North Africa.

The good news is that from Friday and during the weekend, this mass is expected to move and allow cooler air from the Atlantic to enter. This clash between masses of very different conditions will generate powerful clouds and storms will break out strongly, but not all over the country; therefore, it will cool down mainly where the most intense showers fall. In any case, the temperature will normalize and the heat will be normal for these dates or even a little below in mountain areas and inland.

Wednesday: another day with 40°C in Ponent and mugginess on the coast

We have already had more than twenty days this summer with maximums equal to or higher than 40°C. This Wednesday we will return to these values, especially in the Lleida plain and parts of the Ebro interior. The sun will continue to dominate inland with some intervals of low clouds on the coast that will accentuate the feeling of sultriness. Swell is expected north of Cape Begur and light chop elsewhere, with a weak sea breeze in the afternoon.

Maximums will climb to 33°C on the coast, where the heat will be sticky, and there will be notable sultriness. Inland, the thermometer will range between 34°C and 37°C, reaching almost 39°C or 40°C in the Lleida plain and in the interior of the Ebro valley. Meteocat has issued a warning for intense heat:

Afternoon showers will be minor, short-lived, in the Pre-Pyrenees and the westernmost Pyrenees, although, locally, some thunderstorms are not ruled out, especially in the high mountains.

Weather change starting Thursday

The approach of a trough of cold air at high altitude will cause atmospheric instability to gain ground in the coming days. Towards Friday, thunderstorms could affect a large part of the country, with locally intense storms that could also reach the coast. If the forecasts are met, intense storms are expected, which could leave 30 or 40 mm in just over half an hour, accompanied by strong gusts of wind, hail or sleet. Accumulations in a few hours, for example, on the southern coast, in the Prelitoral or in Ponent, could exceed 60 or 70 l/m². Furthermore, the temperature will drop notably and the atmosphere will be normal for this time of year. Despite everything, the rain will not water the entire territory and it is possible that in some regions it will not even rain, due to the irregularity of these episodes.

The Meteocat is already issuing warnings for heavy rain and they extend between Wednesday and Saturday morning:

Between Friday and next weekend the atmosphere will cool down a bit or, in any case, the heat will be bearable and normal for these dates, without reaching the extremes of these last weeks. We will keep following it!

Maximums recorded on Tuesday:

• Vinebre: 40 ºC
• Torroja del Priorat: 39.7 ºC
• Aldover: 39.5 ºC
• Riba-roja Reservoir: 39.2 ºC
• el Masroig: 38.8 ºC
• Tray: 38.5 ºC
• Siurana Reservoir: 38.3 ºC