Maximums of 42 °C and torrid nights: the heatwave peak arrives

The heat has intensified in recent hours, coinciding with the start of astronomical summer on Sunday, the day when maximum temperatures already reached and exceeded 40°C for the first time this year in the regions of Ponent. Notably, 41°C were reached in the city of Lleida (Segrià) and in El Poal (Pla d'Urgell). And the night was torrid in some coastal areas and in elevated zones of the coast and pre-coast, with minimums that did not drop below 25°C. This situation will continue and worsen today, with even more intense heat and the possibility of exceeding 42°C in Ponent and the Ebro interior. A first heatwave of the year that peaks this Monday, with extraordinarily high values, and this situation will accompany us, at least, until Tuesday or Wednesday.

Temperatures will drop slightly in the coming days, but the heat will continue to be very intense and clearly higher than usual for this time of year for many days. Much caution, therefore, with the high risk of forest fires in a week marked by the use of fireworks throughout the Catalan Countries. This Sant Joan will be one of the warmest on record. The heatwave will affect part of Europe, especially western France, where records may be registered. Therefore, the arrival of the anticyclone and very warm air with suspended dust from North Africa will still accompany us for quite a few days.

Monday: heatwave

The heatwave will peak today, when many inland areas will reach or approach 40°C, and even reach 42°C or locally 43°C in areas such as Ponent or the Ebro valley. The presence of suspended dust may cloud the sun and slightly reduce solar radiation, but the mercury will climb everywhere, including during nighttime hours. In fact, last night there were tropical minimums in many regions, but several torrid minimums were also recorded - above 25°C - in coastal areas and in elevated areas of the coast and pre-coast, with thermal inversion. Notable minimums include 26.4°C at the Fabra Observatory, 25.9°C in Montserrat, 25.4°C in the Raval neighborhood of Barcelona, and 25.3°C in the Garraf Natural Park. Sunday's weather will be repeated, with sun and high clouds, but also with cloudiness in the Pyrenees and some scattered showers that could reach the Pre-Pyrenees. Suspended dust will be very present.

In this regard, there are active warnings in a large part of the country for intense heat danger, with the exception of the Girona counties. In addition, many counties will reach a warning level of 4 out of 6 (orange level). There are also active warnings for nighttime heat on the central coast and in Ponent.

Tuesday: very warm St. John's Eve

The temperature will drop slightly towards Tuesday, although the night from Monday to Tuesday will be very warm, with generalized tropical lows and several areas with torrid lows. The drop in temperature during the day will not be evident in many regions, with still very intense heat, and the sun will maintain its dominance. Temperatures will once again reach and exceed 40ºC in the most torrid areas of Ponent and Ebre, with a heatwave that will remain very much alive. During the afternoon, clouds and showers will reappear in the north, but the night will be very calm and warm everywhere, and will respect the bonfires and outdoor dinners of the Sant Joan's Eve.

Showers on the horizon

Throughout the week, the risk of afternoon showers will increase in the Pyrenees, while the rest of the territory will continue to have sun and suspended dust. In fact, showers and thunderstorms could reach some regions outside the Pyrenees, although this will need to be confirmed in the coming days.